Can-etic Energy
Thursday, 19 October 2006 07:40
ANNUAL CONTEST HAS LOTS OF FOLKS GETTING RATHER RED BULL-HEADED
BYLINE: JONATHAN WILLIAMS
- Staff
- DATE: October 19, 2006
- PUBLICATION: Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The (GA)
- EDITION: Main; The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
- SECTION: Access Atlanta
- PAGE: 30
"ART OF THE CAN" is a yearly contest that invites artists to create art using cans of Red Bull, both a marketing tool and a unique recycling endeavor. From the looks of the 67 pieces chosen out of more than 200 submissions, energy was plentiful when the robots, rocket ships, pinatas, lawn chairs, dresses and other creations currently on display in Atlanta came to fruition. Dallas and Minneapolis will also host exhibits of the art, with winners chosen in each city. Atlanta's first-place winner and the exhibit people's choice ("Red Bull-dha" by Travis Christopher of Athens and Natalie Fry of Atlanta) will receive a trip to Art Basel in Basel, Switzerland. Second-place winner Renee Norris-Jones will receive a trip for two to the Art Basel Exhibit in Miami for her "Unfiltered" creation, and third-place winner Forman Lauren will receive a premium membership package to the High Museum of Art for "Sparkling Load of Bull."
THE 411: "Red Bull Art of the Can." Through Oct. 31. Free. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays; noon-5 p.m. Sundays. Mason Murer Fine Art, 199 Armour Drive N.E., Buckhead. 404-879-1500, www.redbullartofthecan.com , www.masonmurer.com .
TRAVIS CHRISTOPHER/NATALIE FRY
Age: 30/25
Occupation: Artist, bartender/Art consultant
School: University of Georgia
Entry: "Red Bull-dha"
Inspiration: "Travis and I really liked the phrase 'vitalizes body and mind,' which is on the Red Bull can. And since the Red Bull formula originated in Thailand where the dominant religion is Buddhism, we came up with the concept of the jovial Buddha. We wanted to convey the message that when a person drinks a Red Bull the experience transforms their body and mind."
ANGEL NAVARRO
Age: 44
Occupation: Artist, DJ
School: None
Entry: "Matchbook Bull"
Inspiration: "My art is about colorful, happy, cartoonish fun. My interests are anything 'pop': art, music, the whole culture."
CHRISTINA BAXTER CRANE
Age: 24
Occupation: Student, server
School: Kennesaw State University
Entry: "Smooth Sailing"
Inspiration: "That 'March of the Penguins' movie, where the little guys are having so much trouble getting through the snow. I thought it would be cool if Red Bull actually gave them wings so they could have an easier time getting where they were going. So I made my painting where the penguins grew regular bird wings and flew away instead of trudging through the snow."
MELVIN GIBSON
Age: 34
Occupation: Student
School: Georgia Perimeter College
Entry: "My Pet Dragon"
Inspiration: "I wanted to make something my son would think was cool. If you could keep a dragon in the house, this is about the biggest size you would want to go."
RAY DUDLEY
Age: 55
Occupation: Theatrical costuming and product design
School: One year of art school at Holyoke Community College
Entry: "Awesome to Behold"
Inspiration: "I decided I wanted to leave the can whole . . . as one unit. I wanted it to be the primary focus because it's a great piece of commercial art. The whole wave thing was my impression of how to convey the energy -- it's an energy drink."
