Columns, Public Installation Art by Patrick Smith.

Artist Statement:

Using the figure as a building block, intertwining with other figures, is a powerful method of constructing a broader configuration. The concept of people supporting others to achieve something larger than themselves can have a sublime result, and it's something that I enjoy illustrating. Furthermore, taking these images and displaying them in a public manner removes any pretense that the art may have. Approachability is a key element to cartoon-type design. With these figures, I don't concern myself with audience acceptance, for I know that an iconic design is very easy to read, as well as to define. The structures themselves are designed to be shown within an urban environment, they work with the surrounding structures, they don't interfere with them. The entire project is meant to be a passive, simple addition to the everyday city street.- Patrick Smith

For Immediate Release:
ANIMATOR COVERS NEW YORK CITY WITH PUBLIC ART
“Columns” public art installation uses guerilla tactics to bring art to the people.

New York, NY- Animator Patrick Smith, director of the independent short films "DRINK" and "DELIVERY" has recently expanded his animated visions with guerilla style paintings scattered throughout New York downtown area.

The public exhibit consists of over 20 hand-painted plywood "Columns" that are bolted to sign posts. The images are of ambiguous figures climbing on top of one another forming tall columns. Smith says the images are an urban theme, people piled on top of one another, helping each other, all working to support a common shape.

Funding for the project came primarily from a fellowship grant from the New York Foundation for the Arts. Smith decided to keep the project in guerilla style, not seeking permits or any other legal status. "The pieces are about as passive as you can get, they are non-obstructive, and they don't damage anything", Smith explains, "graffiti has the unfortunate consequence of vandalism, I wanted my columns to work with the city, with the environment, not destroying it, but adding to it". Smith has experience with this medium; his 1997 public installation "Hollow-faces" was installed all around Government Center Plaza, Boston, MA. "Hollow-faces" consisted of 16 cartoon-like heads scattered throughout the area, each piece was 8'x8', plywood.

Smith claims that these types of public art projects are similar to animation. "In animation you have a character on a cel that is layered on top of a painted background. These plywood pieces are placed over the top the city; the same noticeable contrasts exist. In his last film "Drink" a character drinks a mysterious liquid which unleashes a reaction that leads to a monumental pile of people. An obvious theme in smith's work emerges: "I'm constantly concerned with the idea of human forms conjoining and mutating into larger structures, and I’m not going to limit myself to any one medium.” The award winning film “Drink” has been in over 50 film festivals worldwide.

The public’s reaction has been very positive, several people even going so far as to track Smith down via email. One person writes, "I have a stop sign in front of my house on Staten Island that would be proud to wear one". And possibly, the best reaction of all is people taking them, already several have gone missing, a difficult task if you consider the tamper proof method of installation. Smith is not concerned "I see it as a compliment, and besides, this was just the first wave".

For more information:
www.patsmith.com