Kurt Perschke's RedBall Project: Butta Bing. Butta Ball.

Chicago, IL USA: Day 3 of visiting Kurt Perschke's Red Ball would be different than the First Two. The first would summon up the Question of:

What's it all about?

The Second Day's main comment would be:

How is the setting different than Day #2 and for Day #3: I decided to let the Interaction between the People take its due Course. And, there surely wasn't anything disappoint there...in the least, except for 1 minor Problem. It would have been 'nicer' if RB (as it is affectionately titled) were at the North Entrance of the Field Museum instead of its Southern Door. Last Summer the Cool Globes were strewn across the northern plot (of land) as it juttisons out nearer Lake Michigan and with a few of those Cool Globes still in place, the 'comparison' would have been noteworthy.

However, enough cannot be said about RB...in every setting that it is placed, it does make a Statement. Statement alone by just watching the People watch the Ball. People are not only 'People watchers...' they are definitely Big Ball Fan(atics).

MARK YOUR CALENDARS, FOLKS:
If there isn't one out now, there should be. And that phrase is: If you listen, you're bound to learn something. I overheard one of the Field Museum's Guards say tht the 2nd Monday of every Month is Target-Free Day. Imagine that! How cool is that gesture? Not only is Target sponsoring KURT's Latest Modern Art Exhibition, but for 12 times a year, Admission to this Museum has no charge. That would make anyone BLUSH 'red.'

In keeping with my last 2 Blogs on this PAD: Public Art Display, I'll list comments heard, no matter how absurd -- as everyone has a comment. Not everyone is an Artist (destined to interact with others both near and afar); an Art Aficionado; an Art Collector or even a mild mannered Art Purveyor, everyone has their own Opinion on what grabs their attention.

Consistently, for the last 3 days I've viewed 'RB,' it amazes me by the number of People (both tweens and adults) who punch and kick 'The Ball.' When I asked Kurt:

'Why do People punch and kick your ball?" his response was: 'Cuz it feels playful to them.'

My cat and dog feel playful to me, too, but I don't punch and kick them. Perhaps this Question should be posed to Doctors at Psychology Magazine some day...as it still baffles me. I suppose The Artist, Kurt does have a substantial reason there. People to 'kick and toss around' Volleyballs and they slam baseballs and kick footballs, but this is a MegaBall...what if it someone gained a Life of its own and started rolling..., down the 22 steps of the Field Museum; across the lot and neared Soldier's Field.

I posed this Question to Kurt also. "If the ball got away," I hypothetically asked him: "What would happen?"

'It would roll,' he commented.

Good Answer...but if it neared the Lake, Lake Michigan (or as many of my non-geogragraphically inclined Friends call it): The Michigan Ocean...

Would it float?

"And what would happen if the Ball got away?" I asked KP.

"It would keep on rolling," he smiled.

On my bike trip to the Field Museum (some 10.5 miles) I was given a Pink Balloon that I used as 'Size Comparison' while shooting some Photos of RB: Red Ball. Unfortunately, it was not fastened too tightly to my purse and 'took off' in a blast of wind that set it loose, but for the time I had it, the Differences in Size were substantial. It proved the old Proverb: To grab attention you have to be Big. Would the Color make a difference? Red does capture a person's eye. And, somewhere in my Education, I heard that Red is one of the few Colors that even the Color Blind can see. It has a built-in Audience that money cannot buy. Do look up that Fact tho as I've never used it before in any of my Writings and I may be wrong there...

Another Question I asked Kurt as I climbed the Steps of the So-Ex (SO-uthern EX-posure) of the Field Museum this Morning after examining how the Ball was 'scrunched' between 2 pillars dealt with the 'wrinkles' in its Skin, due to the 'way' it was enclosed.

Stronger than ever, it did not look as it if would budge. Kurt was nearby and said it was the same material Rafts are composed of. This made perfect sense to me, although I've never gone White River Rafting - or in this case, Red River Rafting.

My visit began around 11:30 AM and lasted till 1:45 PM, approximately. During that time, only one little Boy asked: "Can I touch it?" Since the child was within ear-shot, I responded to his question which seemed to be directed to no one in particular: 'You sure can! You can even punch it, if you like.' He had Carte Blanche -- or should we say:

Carte Rouge

to have a 'Ball with The Ball.' From the Mouths of Babes, Politeness can flow.

To keep consistent with my First Two Blogs, I should really number a few of these Notes in case I want to return to them and elaborate more in the weeks to come.

1. A nice Testimonial I overheard was given by one of the Male Guards at the Field Museum said: "It's not just a Ball!" when a Tourist ambled up the steps.

2. With the Positioning of RB on the Steps of the Southern Entrance to the Field Museum, you can't but feel you're in the Rocky Movie when 'Rock' dashes up the Philadelphia Steps. Sometimes, you just can't get away from those Flashbacks.

3. Everyone carries a camera these days. You needn't be a Tourist to have one. It needn't even been a high-end digital. This Ball-Art is photographed more than Madonna and Britney are combined.

4. To get an idea of its Size, bring a few red tops you may have at home. Examples would be your Folgers Coffee top; a Red Checker and perhaps a Red Frisbee. Stand a few levels below the ball and aim your camera at the Ball, while holding your Prop. Monique (of the RedBall Project) says the size will look the Same because of the Perspective. It makes for a cool Photo(graph) and definitely something School Teachers may like to explain to their Students.

5. Has anyone ever gotten married under The Ball?

6. Have Birds (like the SeaGulls) who beg for tidbits landed on the Sphere?

7. It's a Big Red Ball. Did anyone ever think it should be placed (in comparison to) our 'Big Bat' Sculpture located in the West Loop? That definitely would be 'of interest' or even placed in the Center of Wrigley Field (on Clark & Addison). There are so many more Places it could be placed; no doubt it will have to return to complete these...

8. The 4 Reasons (not neccessarily 'the Professionals') but mine on why Kurt Perschke's RedBall Project is such a draw is that it:

a) radiates Energy;
b) links People to a common object; and
c) has a diversity to it since Balls have multitudes of meanings and possibilities in all industries.
d) transforms an area and thereby transforms the Viewer's Impression of what it is; what it was and what it will be (after it leaves).

Yup, you do learn alot if you sit, stare and listen to what People have to say, on a beautiful Saturday Morning 'n Afternoon. You learn about Art. You learn about Human Nature. You learn about Nature. You learn about Life. I suppose somebody could write a Book now entitled:

Everything I ever learned, I learned from the RedBall Project.

And, that's 'Write-on-Target.'

IN CLOSING:

GRAB the Family after Brunch tomorrow, Sunday, September 7th and head on over to:

Grant Park, Museum Campus Viaduct from 11 AM to 6 PM.

As the Days wane shorter, the Attention for seeing 'RB' don't subside. 'Catch it' while you can at:

9-10-2008: 17TH Church of Christ, Scientist at Wacker & Wabash

9-13-2008: Wicker Park at Damon & North Avenue

9-14-2008: North Av. Beach Chess Pavillion

9-19-2008: Hyde Park Art Center

9-20-2008: IIT's McCormick Tribune Campus Center

9-23-2008: 19 South LaSalle

9-24-2008: Federal Plaza

9-25-2008: Chicago Cultural Center

FINAL FUN REMARKS: It's the Weekend in Chicago. The first one for September. The official September Autumn Art Season successfully kicked off in River North & River West on Friday Night. The Red Ball Public Art Expo is thrilling People. Many are not even aware of its 'Travels,' but get The Surprise that it lends itself to, when 'they' walk around a Corner and VOILA: There's The Ball in all its Splendor & Glory. Why leave Chicago when 'RB' is in town? Maybe it will find a permanent Home at the Field Museum after September 25!


REPORTED BY:
ASK: Adrienne Sioux Koopersmith
GORF Werks Central
'Home of The Grin Reaper' - Chicago's First Green Mascot &
The Icon of the Green Movement
Chicago - chicaGORF - IL USA

POSTED: Saturday, September 6, 2008 - 2:52 PM CST ==========================================