Taking imagination seriously - Janet Echelman

Summary

Artist Janet Echelman, with no formal training in sculpture, engineering, or architecture, revolutionized the art world by using fishnet to create large, fluid sculptures that move with the wind. From her first self-portrait sculpture in collaboration with fishermen to permanent public installations, she blends traditional craft with modern engineering and technology. Her work transforms urban spaces, inviting interaction and inspiring a sense of wonder, as seen in her projects in Portugal, Philadelphia, and Denver, and her aspirations to bring her art to cities globally.

Takeaways

• 🎨 The artist's journey began with an unexpected encounter with fishnet material, leading to a unique approach to creating volumetric sculptures without heavy materials.
• 🏛️ The artist had no formal training in sculpture, engineering, or architecture but pursued a path of self-taught artistry and innovation.
• 🤝 Collaboration with local fishermen in Mahabalipuram, India, was pivotal in developing the initial concept of using fishnets for sculptures.
• 🌬 The artist's work is characterized by soft, wind-responsive forms that transform with the slightest breeze, creating dynamic patterns.
• 🌐 A pivotal moment in the artist's career was the introduction of their work to urbanist Manuel Solom Morales, leading to a commission for a permanent public art installation in Porto, Portugal.
• 🔍 The search for a durable material suitable for outdoor sculptures led to a two-year quest, resulting in the discovery of a fiber that could withstand environmental challenges while maintaining softness and fluid movement.
• 🛠️ The artist collaborated with an aeronautical engineer, Peter Hele, to design a structure that could move gracefully in the wind and withstand hurricane forces.
• 🔄 The process of adapting traditional handcraft techniques to industrial machinery required the creation of a new language to communicate the artist's vision to machine operators.
• 🏙️ The artist's vision expanded to include creating large-scale sculptures in urban environments, transforming public spaces and giving them a sense of place.
• 🌁 The use of innovative materials like atomized water particles for sculptures allowed for interactive, wind-shaped art that people could move through without getting wet.
• 🌍 The artist aims to create sculptures that represent global interconnectedness, as exemplified by a project commissioned by the Banial of the Americas in Denver, representing the 35 nations of the Western Hemisphere.

Q & A

What material did the artist initially use for her sculptures?

The artist initially used fishnet, an ordinary material used for centuries, to create her sculptures.

Why did the artist switch from painting to sculpture?

The artist switched from painting to sculpture when her paints didn't arrive in time for an exhibition in India, and she was inspired by the local fishermen bundling their nets on the beach.

What was the artist's first sculpture made with the fishermen?

The artist's first sculpture made with the fishermen was a self-portrait titled 'Wide Hips'.

How did the artist's work evolve to involve larger scale installations?

The artist's work evolved to involve larger scale installations when she collaborated with lace makers in Lithuania and then returned to India to work with fishermen, eventually creating a net of a million and a half hand-tied knots.

What challenge did the artist face when asked to create a permanent piece for Porto, Portugal?

The artist faced the challenge of finding a fiber that could survive ultraviolet rays, salt, and air pollution while remaining soft enough to move fluidly in the wind, as well as the challenge of engineering a structure that could withstand hurricane winds.

Who is Peter Heil, and how did he contribute to the artist's work?

Peter Heil is an aeronautical engineer who designed sails for America's Cup racing yachts. He helped the artist tackle the challenges of precise shape and gentle movement for her sculptures.

How did the artist adapt her work to use machine-made lace instead of hand-tied knots?

The artist developed a relationship with an industrial fishnet factory, learned the variables of their machines, and figured out a way to make lace with them, creating a new language to translate the ancient handcraft into something machine operators could produce.

What is the significance of the sculpture '1.26' and how was it created?

The sculpture '1.26' represents the 35 nations of the Western Hemisphere and their interconnectedness. It was created by translating data on a tsunami that affected Chile and rippled across the Pacific Ocean, shortening the Earth's day by 1.26 microseconds.

What new material did the artist use to trace the paths of subway trains above ground in real time?

The artist used tiny atomized water particles to create a dry mist that is shaped by the wind and can be interacted with by people without getting wet.

What is the artist's vision for the future of her sculptures?

The artist's vision for the future is to create these sculptures at the scale of skyscrapers in cities around the world, where they are most needed, combining traditional craft forms with high-tech materials and engineering.

What impact did the artist's sculpture have on people in Phoenix?

The artist's sculpture in Phoenix had a profound impact, as it drew people out of their offices, including an attorney who had never been interested in art, to lie down underneath the sculpture and share the rediscovery of wonder.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 Artistic Innovation with Fishnet Sculpture

The speaker recounts their journey of artistic innovation, beginning with an unexpected encounter with fishnet material. Despite having no formal training in sculpture, engineering, or architecture, they found a new approach to creating large-scale, volumetric forms using fishnet. Their first successful sculpture was a collaborative effort with local fishermen in Mahabalipuram, India, which led to the creation of a self-portrait titled 'Wide Hips.' The speaker was fascinated by the way the soft surfaces of the sculpture responded to the wind, creating ever-changing patterns. They continued to explore craft traditions and collaborate with artisans, eventually working with lace makers in Lithuania and then returning to India to create a massive net sculpture that caught the attention of urbanist Manuel Solà-Morales. This led to a commission to create a permanent piece for Porto, Portugal, which required two years of research and development to find a durable yet soft fiber suitable for the project. The speaker collaborated with an aeronautical engineer and an industrial fishnet factory to bring their vision to life, resulting in a 50,000 square foot lace net sculpture that transformed a previously bland intersection into a place with a sense of identity.

05:00

🌟 Sculpting with High-Tech Materials and Engineering

The speaker discusses the evolution of their work, moving from traditional craft forms to incorporating high-tech materials and engineering. They share two new directions in their work: creating a sculpture for the plaza of Historic Philadelphia City Hall using atomized water particles to form a dry mist that can be shaped by the wind and people, and another project for the Banial of the Americas in Denver, representing the interconnectedness of 35 nations. The latter project, titled '1.26,' was inspired by the effects of a Chilean earthquake and tsunami on the Earth's rotation. The speaker replaced traditional steel rings with a soft, fine mesh of a fiber 15 times stronger than steel, allowing the sculpture to be entirely soft and light enough to tie into existing buildings. They faced challenges in creating software to model these complex net forms with gravity but successfully developed new tools for this purpose. The speaker expresses a dream of bringing these sculptures to cities around the world and shares a story of how their art can inspire people to come together and experience wonder.

10:01

🏙 The Power of Community and Small Businesses

In the final paragraph, the speaker shifts focus to the power of community and small businesses, using the example of American Express and its membership effect. The narrative highlights the importance of supporting local businesses and the impact they can have on a community. The speaker shares anecdotes of small business owners who create a sense of community and delight, such as a lumber company that turns its warehouse into a community theater or a bridal boutique that helps brides find their perfect dress. The paragraph concludes with a call to action for people to join a movement that supports and revitalizes Main Street, emphasizing the collective power of individuals to make a difference.

Keywords

💡Imagination

Imagination is the ability to form mental images or concepts of things that are not present or have never been seen. In the video's theme, imagination is central to the artist's journey, as it is what led to the innovative use of fishnet as a sculptural material. The artist's encounter with fishnet on the beach sparked a new approach to creating volumetric forms, demonstrating how imagination can transform ordinary materials into extraordinary art.

💡Fishnet

Fishnet is a type of net used traditionally for fishing, characterized by its diamond-shaped open mesh. In the context of the video, fishnet is reimagined as a material for creating large-scale, soft sculptures that interact with the environment. The artist's first sculpture made from fishnet, a self-portrait titled 'Wide Hips,' illustrates the potential of this material to capture the subtleties of wind and movement.

💡Sculpture

Sculpture is a form of visual art that involves creating three-dimensional objects. The video discusses the artist's unconventional approach to sculpture, moving away from traditional materials like bronze to using lightweight, flexible materials like fishnet. This new approach allows for the creation of dynamic, environmental sculptures that change with the wind and engage with the public space.

💡Collaboration

Collaboration refers to the process of working together with others toward a common goal. Throughout the video, the artist emphasizes the importance of collaboration with local artisans and experts, such as fishermen and lace makers, in developing new techniques and materials for their sculptures. This collaborative approach enriches the creative process and results in culturally resonant works of art.

💡Innovation

Innovation is the process of translating an idea or invention into a good or service that creates value. The artist's work is a testament to innovation, as they have taken traditional materials and techniques and repurposed them in novel ways. For example, using fishnet and lace to create large-scale, interactive sculptures represents a significant departure from conventional sculpture-making practices.

💡Engineering

Engineering is the application of scientific principles to design and build structures, machines, and systems. In the video, engineering plays a crucial role in realizing the artist's vision for durable, permanent sculptures. The artist worked with an aeronautical engineer to design a steel ring that could withstand weather conditions while maintaining the sculptures' fluid movement, showcasing the intersection of art and engineering.

💡Urban Art

Urban art refers to artistic works that are created to interact with and enhance the urban environment. The video describes the artist's goal to create 'oases of sculpture' in city spaces around the world. Examples include a sculpture in Porto, Portugal, that transforms an intersection into a place with a sense of identity, demonstrating how urban art can redefine public spaces.

💡Material Science

Material science is an interdisciplinary field that studies the properties of materials and their applications. The artist's search for a fiber that could withstand environmental stressors while remaining soft enough to move in the wind exemplifies the application of material science in art. This quest led to the discovery of a fiber 15 times stronger than steel, which enabled the creation of lighter, more flexible sculptures.

💡Interactivity

Interactivity refers to the ability of a system or object to respond to user input. In the video, the artist introduces a sculpture made of dry mist, which can be shaped by the wind and interacted with by people. This interactivity allows the public to engage with the sculpture in a more personal and dynamic way, blurring the lines between art and audience.

💡Cultural Representation

Cultural representation involves the depiction or expression of a culture's values, beliefs, and practices. The artist's sculpture for the Biennial of the Americas in Denver, which represents the interconnectedness of 35 Western Hemisphere nations, is an example of cultural representation. The sculpture, titled '1.26,' is inspired by a natural disaster that affected the entire region, symbolizing the shared experiences and connections among these nations.

💡Community

Community refers to a group of people sharing a common interest or purpose. The video concludes with a story about a community coming together to experience the artist's sculpture, highlighting the power of art to bring people together. The story illustrates how art can foster a sense of community and shared wonder, transcending individual differences.

Highlights

Introduction of an innovative approach to sculpture using fishnet material.

The artist's background includes no formal study in sculpture, engineering, or architecture.

Rejection from seven art schools led to a self-taught journey in art.

A creative breakthrough occurred during a trip to India, inspired by local fishermen.

The creation of 'wide hips', a self-portrait sculpture made in collaboration with fishermen.

The discovery of the dynamic nature of fishnet sculptures influenced by wind.

Collaboration with artisans to study craft traditions and expand artistic techniques.

Experimentation with lace makers in Lithuania for fine detailing in sculptures.

The ambition to create larger, immersive sculptures that people can experience within.

Commission from urbanist Manuel Solom Morales to create a permanent piece for Porto, Portugal.

The challenge of finding a durable fiber that can withstand environmental factors.

Innovative engineering by Peter Hele to ensure the sculpture's movement and durability.

Adapting industrial fishnet machinery to create large-scale lace sculptures.

Development of a new language to translate handcraft techniques into machine production.

The successful realization of a 50,000 square foot lace net sculpture.

Transformation of a mundane city intersection into a place with a sense of identity.

Aspiration to create sculptures in urban spaces worldwide, enhancing cityscapes.

Introduction of a new sculpture material using atomized water particles for interactive art.

The challenge of representing 35 nations and their interconnectedness in a single sculpture.

Utilization of data from a Chilean earthquake and tsunami to inform sculpture design.

Innovative use of a soft, strong fiber to replace metal armatures in sculpture construction.

The development of custom software to model complex net forms with gravity.

Potential for adapting these concepts to iconic locations like Times Square or the Highline.

The story's conclusion with a personal account of the impact of public art on community engagement.

The power of art to inspire wonder and bring people together, as exemplified by the Phoenix sculpture.

Transcripts

[Music]

[Music]

[Applause]

this story is about taking imagination

seriously 14 years ago I first

encountered this ordinary material

fishnet used the same way for

centuries today

I'm using it to create permanent

billowing voluptuous forms the scale of

hard edged buildings in cities around

the

world I was an unlikely person to be

doing this I never studied sculpture

engineering or architecture in fact

after college I applied to seven art

schools and was rejected by all

seven I went off on my own to become an

artist and I painted for 10 years

when I was offered a fbite to

India promising to give exhibitions of

paintings I shipped my paints and

arrived in mahabali purum the deadline

for the show arrived my paints

didn't I had to do something this

fishing Village was famous for sculpture

so I tried bronze casting but to make

large forms was too heavy and expensive

I went for a walk on the beach watching

the fishermen bundle their Nets into

Mounds on the sand I'd seen it every day

but this time I saw it differently a new

approach to sculpture a way to make

volumetric form without heavy solid

materials my first satisfying sculpture

was made in collaboration with these

fisherman it's a self-portrait titled

wide

hips we hoisted them on poles to

photograph I discovered their soft

surfaces revealed every Ripple of wind

in constantly changing patterns I was

mesmerized I continued studying craft

traditions and collaborating with

Artisans next in Lithuania with lace

makers I liked the fine detail it gave

my work but I wanted to make them larger

to shift from being an object you look

at to something you could get lost in

returning to India to work with those

fishermen we made a net of a million and

a half handtied

knots installed briefly in Madrid

thousands of people saw it and one of

them was the urbanist Manuel solom

Morales who was redesigning the

Waterfront in Porto

Portugal he asked if I could build this

as a permanent piece for the city I

didn't know if I could do that and

preserve my art

durable engineered permanent those are

in opposition to idiosyncratic delicate

and

ephemeral for two years I searched for a

fiber that could survive ultraviolet

rays Salt Air Pollution and at the same

time remained soft enough to move

fluidly in the wind we needed something

to hold the net up out there in the

middle of the traffic circle so we

raised this 45,000 lb steel

ring we had to engineer it to move

gracefully in an average Breeze and

survive in Hurricane winds but there was

no engineering software to model

something porous and

moving I found a brilliant aeronautical

engineer who designed sales for

America's Cup racing Yachts named Peter

heel he helped me tackle the twin

challenges of precise

shape and gentle

movement I couldn't build this the way I

knew because hand tied knots weren't

going to withstand a hurricane so I

developed a relationship with an

industrial fishnet Factory learned the

variables of their machines and figured

out a way to make lace with

them there was no language to translate

this ancient idiosyncratic handcraft

into something machine operators could

produce so we had to create one 3 years

and two children

later we raised this 50,000 square foot

lace net it was hard to believe that

what I had imagined was now built

permanent and had lost nothing in

Translation this intersection had been

Bland and Anonymous now it had a sense

of

place I walked underneath it for the

first time

as I watched the wind's choreography

unfold I felt sheltered and at the same

time connected to Limitless Sky my life

was not going to be the

[Music]

same I want to create these oases of

sculpture in spaces of cities around the

world I'm going to share two directions

that are knew in my

work Historic Philadelphia city hall its

Plaza I felt needed a material for

sculpture that was lighter than netting

so we experimented with tiny atomized

water particles to create a dry Mist

that is shaped by the wind and in

testing discovered it can be shaped by

people who can interact and move through

it without getting wet I'm using this

sculpture material to trace the paths of

subway trains above ground in real

time like an x-ray of the city's

circulatory system

unfolding next challenge the banial of

the Americas in Denver asked could I

represent the 35 nations of the Western

Hemisphere and their interconnectedness

in a

sculpture I didn't know where to begin

but I said yes I read about the recent

earthquake in

Chile and the tsunami that rippled

across the entire Pacific Ocean it

shifted the earth's tectonic plates sped

up the planet's rotation and literally

shortened the length of the day so I

contacted Noah and I asked if they'd

share their data on the tsunami and

translated it into

this it's title 1.26 refers to the

number of microseconds that the Earth's

day was

shortened I couldn't build this with a

steel ring the way I knew its shape was

too complex now so I replaced the metal

Armature with a soft fine mesh of a

fiber 15 times stronger than

steel the sculpture could now be

entirely soft which made it so light it

could tie into existing

buildings literally becoming part of the

fabric of the city there was no software

that could extrude these complex net

forms and model them with gravity so we

had to create

it then I got a call from New York

City asking if I could adapt these

Concepts to Time Square or the

Highline this new soft structural method

enables me to model these and build

these sculptures at the scale of skysc

scrapers they don't have funding yet but

I dream now of bringing these to cities

around the world where they're most

needed 14 years ago I search for

beauty in the traditional things in

craft

forms now I combine them with high-tech

materials and

Engineering to create volup billowing

forms the scale of

buildings my artistic Horizons continue

to grow I leave you with this story I

got a call from a friend in

Phoenix an attorney in the office who'd

never been interested in art never

visited the local Art

Museum dragged everyone she could from

the building and got them outside to lie

down underneath the sculpture there they

were in their business suits lying in

the grass noticing the the changing

patterns of wind beside people they

didn't know sharing the rediscovery of

Wonder thank

you thank you thank you thank

you thank

you thank

you they have Nam games like idle time

books and panther coffee with free

enterprise puns like Hue and cry and

smash records and one Saturday a year

small businesses remind a nation of the

benefits of shopping small like the way

David Kaplan at Shell Lumber shows you

how to use a chopsaw then invites you

back when the warehouse becomes the

community theater or the way Camille

rustler of Ever After travels the

journey from despair to Bliss with every

bride to be absolutely stunning on just

one day 100 million of us joined a

movement and Main Street found its might

again and Main Street found its fight

again and we the locals found Delight

again that's the power of all of us

that's the power of all of That's The

Power of all of us that's the membership

effect of American

Express and