Spring Break
New York artist combines art and science for NT
Art exhibit promotes water conservation
Christi Hang
Issue date: 2/28/07 Section: ARTS
The Environmental Education, Science and Technology Building is not normally home to the office of an artist, but Daniel Bozhkov spent a two-week residency there to do research for an original piece of art for NT.
Bozhkov's creation, "Rainmaker's Workshop," will feature a 12-foot canister that will collect water from the roof of the Art Building, two gardens and a 19-foot dump truck.
The March 14 opening of "Recent Works & Underground Waterworks: Rainmaker's Workshop" will coincide with the WaterWays 2007 conference, said Diana Block, NT Art Building gallery director for the Fort Worth art space.
"The conference is a confluence of events happening at the same time addressing water usage and scarcity," Block said.
Block also said the exhibit will be in two parts with the original creation outside and "slices" of Bozhkov's previous works inside the art gallery. The "slices" include photographs or pieces from his earlier works.
"Every piece he does takes a different form," Block said.
She also said Bozhkov's work can be described as conceptual art, with some of his pieces incorporating paint, sculpture and photo.
"From installation art to performance, they all require research," Block said.
When it came to researching for "Rainmaker's Workshop," Bozhkov said in addition to his two-week stay at the EESAT, he visited NT five or six times to do research on water usage and scarcity with Irene Klaver of the philosophy and religion faculty.
Block said Bozhkov has been collaborating with experts such as Richard Heinichen, who collects and bottles rain water in Dripping Springs.
In his research of water, Bozhkov said the most interesting thing he learned was something people take for granted.
"It's a magical medium - without water there would be no life," Bozhkov said. "With a river flowing upstream or downstream, it defines culture and civilizations."
Block said she asked Bozhkov to come to NT to give a lecture after hearing a student's praise for the artist. Block said the student was amazed by Bozhkov's unusual methods, and the student learned about the potential of art and how it could have a much wider meaning.
Bozhkov's creation, "Rainmaker's Workshop," will feature a 12-foot canister that will collect water from the roof of the Art Building, two gardens and a 19-foot dump truck.
The March 14 opening of "Recent Works & Underground Waterworks: Rainmaker's Workshop" will coincide with the WaterWays 2007 conference, said Diana Block, NT Art Building gallery director for the Fort Worth art space.
"The conference is a confluence of events happening at the same time addressing water usage and scarcity," Block said.
Block also said the exhibit will be in two parts with the original creation outside and "slices" of Bozhkov's previous works inside the art gallery. The "slices" include photographs or pieces from his earlier works.
"Every piece he does takes a different form," Block said.
She also said Bozhkov's work can be described as conceptual art, with some of his pieces incorporating paint, sculpture and photo.
"From installation art to performance, they all require research," Block said.
When it came to researching for "Rainmaker's Workshop," Bozhkov said in addition to his two-week stay at the EESAT, he visited NT five or six times to do research on water usage and scarcity with Irene Klaver of the philosophy and religion faculty.
Block said Bozhkov has been collaborating with experts such as Richard Heinichen, who collects and bottles rain water in Dripping Springs.
In his research of water, Bozhkov said the most interesting thing he learned was something people take for granted.
"It's a magical medium - without water there would be no life," Bozhkov said. "With a river flowing upstream or downstream, it defines culture and civilizations."
Block said she asked Bozhkov to come to NT to give a lecture after hearing a student's praise for the artist. Block said the student was amazed by Bozhkov's unusual methods, and the student learned about the potential of art and how it could have a much wider meaning.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
David
posted 2/28/07 @ 8:28 AM CST
The dumptruck is coming from UNT's Surplus and must be in working order when the truck is returned in a year. If the truck is placed outside, I'm afraid students will try to vandalise or move it. (Continued…)
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