Art on a Grand Scale

Boston, MA . . . Impassioned by the scale of the Big Dig, The Revolving Museum's Artistic Director Jerry Beck has curated a group of larger-than-life artworks for Tunnel Vision. These public artworks are emblematic of the monumental changes for the good that art can have on a community. Pieces will be on display in public sites within Fort Point from October through December, with most works activated during the annual Fort Point Open Studios, held this year on October 21st and 22nd. Works include:


The Big Head, a community portrait ? This 12-foot-tall interactive mobile sculpture will evolve as hundreds of individuals add to it, creating a community portrait. Already more than 50 youth, parents and residents have contributed drawings and paintings that express their views on the importance of art and community. Two monitors situated in the eyes play a video and sound piece (created by Steve Davis) featuring interviews, images and music. Participants will be encouraged to make their mark by adding to the fabric skin of the head in a style similar to a Victorian-era Crazy Quilt making session. Viewers can also peek inside the head to see a miniature mechanical world where an artist fights to preserve his neighborhood.


Heads or Tales (Giant Newspaper) ? Designed by students from the Art Institute of Boston at Lesley College, this 36-foot-high fabric newspaper will hang dramatically from a mammoth crane in the Big Dig. The allegorical "paper" reflects satirical, political and sentimental headlines and stories about the Fort Point community.


On The Fence (Carnival Banners) ? A spectacular exhibition of carnival-size banners will be on display along two blocks of fences bordering the Big Dig site on A Street. While construction crews toil away at the biggest public works project in history, artists with a range of backgrounds and disciplines will present a side show revealing the parallels between the creative work happening in the Big Dig and the artists' neighborhood. Artists include Ahmed Abdallah, Pam and Harry Bernard, Heather Burke, Bob Davies, Nate Demant, David Fallon, Jose Gonzalez, Brian Hart, Jeff Hull, Yeheshua Johnson, Derek Magnus, Russel Moore, Karen Moss, Danny O, C.J. Phu, Jen Roberts, Barbara Searly / Edward Flemming & Co., Carlos Stuart, Doug Urbank and Clara Wainwright.

Danny O's Have You Seen my Studio? is a gigantic mural covered with hundreds of discarded balls that he and his friends collected from Boston neighborhoods. The mural, attached to one of the Big Dig's 20-foot-high wooden sound walls, depicts a boy looking through binoculars.