Monday, March 30, 2015

Pothole Mosaics

I recently found an article about Chicago "guerrilla" artist Jim Bachor, who creates mosaics in potholes. It's a really beautiful idea! There are other artists working in the medium of potholes, but none who actually fill the potholes.


I wanted to know more about him, so I did some background research about him and the pot hole project. Jim has a degree in Graphic Design from the Center for Creative Studies in Detroit. On a voluntary archeological dig in Pompeii, he melded his interests of art and leaving a mark on this world. 

Jim started with just a few potholes in 2014. This caught media attention quickly and took off. He was featured in more than a dozen online and print articles and television coverage, including Gizmodo and Fox News.

Jim started a Kickstarter Campaign earlier this year to fund five more potholes. One hundred nine people donated to his campaign, which has allowed Jon to expand his plan to include eight potholes. Potholes have turned out to be a good canvas for him. 

Jim's personal statement reflects some of my own opinions about mosaic art. "Marble and glass do not fade. Mortar is mortar. An ancient mosaic looks exactly as intended by the artist who produced it over two millennia ago. What else can claim that kind of staying power? I find this idea simply amazing," he writes on his website.

"Brought to you by. . ." J. Bachor

He elaborates, ". . .my work surprises the viewer while challenging long-held notions of what a mosaic should be. Like low-tech pixels, hundreds, if not thousands of tiny, hand-cut pieces of Italian glass and marble comprise my work.

This work is my mark."

You can check out the Pothole Installation project on his website, which includes a map of each mosaic.

May all of your scores run true!
-paula





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