Kurt Perschke’s RedBall Project - Chicago-Style: Concluding Re(d)marks

SUBTITLE: The Finale of Kurt Perschke’s RedBall Project K-Blogs

Chicago, IL USA: Scientific American’s October, 2008 Cover told us to:

Forget the Big Bang: Now, it’s the BIG BOUNCE Theory

and indeed that was what happened when Kurt Perschke, Sculpture/Artist finalized his 15TH City-wide Exhibition in 25 Days at the renown Chicago Cultural Center on Thursday, September 25TH at 5 PM.

Releasing a significant Amount of Air from The Ball, that was stunningly hoisted between the void Air Space between the Mezzanine’s Balustrade and the southern Exposure Crescent Window near the South Entrance Way (some 15 feet across), the 250 lb. (perhaps it was down to 200 lbs. by that time) BALL hit the First Floor with a tremendous Thud (possibly seismic in nature), raising an engrained dusty film that was hardly noticeable to the thousands of people that enter The Center every Week. The Thud hit once; then twice followed by a mass of applause emanating from The Crowd that curiously gathered along The Sidelines to watch the Finale. None really knew what would happen. The only Physical Law (that the Majority knew about) was that the Gift of Gravity makes an Object fall to the Ground. If the Object is rubber, it’s bound to bounce. If it’s a 200+ Ball how hard and how far would it bounce? That’s what formulated most of The Surprise Ending. That Closing Event and Moment spiraled into the Culmination of an electrifying Exhibition of Public Art that united Residents, Tourists and Visitors of Chicago to the City Surroundings, yet depicted it in scarlet Tones that splashed on (to) The Scene.

Like a Bee to a Flower, Crowds had gathered throughout The Redball Project’s September Visit to Chicago and for good Reasons.

1) The Ball was a Curiosity.

2) It was bigger than life-size and this gave its Drawing Appeal.

3) It genuinely had a positive Affect over People that brought out an Array of Actions and Reactions.

4) It created a Sense of Community and Camaraderie to those who saw it.

For those who stopped to wonder and ponder its Existence and ask Why (it was there), People queried others about what they thought of The Ball.

It became:

5) The Buzz Word around town as more and more People told others who wanted to see ‘It’ for themselves.

Since a sizable Cluster of People now carry Cameras and/or their cell phones become an instant Camera, Pictures were continuously snapped of THE BALL in Action. That Action was not necessarily comprised of it ‘sitting stagnant’ there from 11AM – 6 PM on the Days it made ‘The Rounds’.

People (themselves) became involved. The Ball became ‘interactive.’ People staged a Series of Silly Antics that ranged from

head-butting The Ball;

to the 6-P Affect (which I labeled as: Punching, Pelting, Pounding, Pummeling, Pouncing, Patting & Pinching ‘The Ball;’

to laying under The Ball (even in pricey designer LaSalle Street ‘Suits’);

to pretending to ‘push it’ in an Atlas-type position;

to crawling up on to scaffolding encasing the Ball; and

to pulling an Assortment of Gymnastics including head and hand stands.

Throughout the Duration of the Presentation, The Ball itself did not move. Yet, The Ball moved People. This Deduction stems from the poignant quote a(nother) famous Chicago Artist, Walt Fydryck quoted several years ago:

“Don’t touch The Art, let The Art touch you.”

The Action embraced that of the Viewers; the Camera People; the TV & Radio Stations who found Kurt’s Sculpture to be as fascinating as the Politicians who were making News; the Crimes that were being committed and covered; the Dramas happening in the Entertainment Field; the Collapses on Wall Street; the Dreams of those going back to School, as September signals a Sign for Education to recommence and an End to The Summer – all the News that happened in September, 2008 equated to the News surrounding Kurt’s RedBall.

For a few Moments in Fleeting Time, the 'Blues' dissipated...


TURNING A PAGE IN ART HISTORY:

KURT PERSCHKE’s REDBALL PROJECT became an Educational as well as Psychological Course in Art, Human Nature, Interaction and Diligence. It became the Topic of many Papers (both on and off-line) and enthralled many Journalists from those who are seasoned Professionals from the biggest Newspapers in Chicago to Students entering the Broadcasting Field who were ‘out on Assignment’ to Interview the Artist and the City’s Reaction to it.

Q: Would this spherical Sculpture be as amazing if it were a clear (as glass) Ball?

Q: Did the RedBall increase Sales to Target, their Sponsor?

Q: What else will We find ‘around the next corner’ as We go upon our daily Routines?

Although most of the Questions Kurt was asked were the same, the Level of Interest was certainly there. This captivated not only The Artist who was extremely proud of his Undertaking (as this was the Seventh City The RedBall Project and its Third Continent visited and once Perschke’s Home), it methodically became a Reminder that Public Art Displays (as this) are made possible by the fine Sponsorship of larger Concerns – Target Corp, who backed the Project and believe in ‘giving back.’ Throughout Art History, the Church, Government, The Wealthy and Corporations have backed Human Creativity. In this highly troubled and recessionary/depressionary Age, that seems like the furthest Avenue to pursue in anyone’s mind, but it is the Goal of Target. Every Week, Target (based in Minneapolis, Minnesota as it celebrates its 106TH Milestone Anniversary), gives 5% of its Income to Communities – over $3,000,000 every Week.

“Target held a Ball and Chicago was invited.”

Quote of ASK: Adrienne Sioux Koopersmith
Tuesday, September 30, 2008 – 11:12 AM CST

Judging by the great Attendance Levels at each Pivotal Point, People of all Ages enjoyed and responded in a receptive and friendly manner. That is an Art in and of itself.

As Kurt conducted Interviews every Day to those professionals in The Media as well as passers-by who merely wanted to meet the Artist and see what made him ‘tick,’ the Ideas shared could fill Volumes. There are still many Questions that need to be answered. The light-heartedness of seeing a giant Ball made People happy. Happier still was the Response it elicited from People, who…most likely would not have stopped and chatted with one another if The Redball Project had not graced Chicago.

The THRILL ©:

T – The
H – Hot
R – RedBall
I – Is
L – Leaving
L – Land of Lincoln

is gone, but not forgotten. Now, that’s pretty meaningful in and of itself, you know.

Reported by:

ASK: Adrienne Sioux Koopersmith
Koopersmith’s Global Communications
“People read what Adrienne writes about…”
&
GORF Werks Central
“Home of The Grin Reaper’ – ‘Chicago’s First Green Mascot’
&
‘The Icon of The Green Movement’
Chicago – chicaGORF – IL USA

Posted: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 - 1:10 PM CST

SOURCE: Info about Target found at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Target_Corporation