In the present Post-Modern era art most people consider art to be the use of “fancy” paints or works of incredible architecture but vary rarely do people think of childhood novelties becoming the artistic medium for masterpieces. The first of two people whose works amaze me is American and former NASA scientist Kurt Wenner. Wenner left NASA to pursue his life long love of art, his own artistic mastery spanned past his beloved classical medium and subject matter (Kurtwenner.com). Believe it or not, the pieces of art done by Wenner, which I consider to be his most impressive are done with the childhood novelty, chalk (of all things).
This first piece, completed in 2011 was done with chalk, both on the concrete and a vertical back drop.
Wenner, Kurt. Herald Square Celebration. New York (2011). Chalk.
This work is mind boggling and gives the illusion of a third dimension when in reality it is simply composed of two perpendicular flat surfaces. The piece depicts the very celebration that Wenner created it for and gives the viewer a birds-eye-view of the very thing that they were participating in.
This next piece the same method of using two perpendicular flat surfaces to create a 3D illusion.
Wenner, Kurt. Armchair Traveler. London (2011). Chalk.
Personally, I enjoy the whimsical nature of this particular piece. It depicts Wenner’s experience with three dimensional media; how it feels and seems. The drawn viewer is watching a 3D television and beneath the television a jeep is plunging through the wall and the animals are filling the room. All of this is an Imaginative representation of the experience of seeing 3D media.
This last piece done by Wenner is really fun, and at the same time kind of creepy. Unlike the earlier works this one is on a single flat surface and still gives the Illusion that there is a hole in the ground.
Wenner, Kurt. Crash Site. California (2011). Chalk.
This piece was created during the California ComiCon and per the theme of the festival, depicts a hole created by an alien crash landing, There is even an alien hand reaching out of the abyssal hole.
But Americans are certainly not the only ones who can blow the minds of viewers, utilizing a novelty that can be be taken for granted. The English have their “Picasso of Street Art,” Julian Beever who took his life long love of street art and successfully turned it into an artistic business, much like the local Alaskan Ice carvers (Julianbeever.net). Beever’s work is mostly happy and whimsical and along with the philosophy of Deconstruction his art is often just for fun and void of proposed meaning. Like Wenner, Beever prefers to use chalk as his main medium when crafting his masterful works of art.
This very recent work is a great example of Beever’s whimsical nature as well as his amazing ability to fool the mind.
Beever, Julian. Leaning Slice of Pizza. Zurich (2012). Chalk.
Due to this piece’s complete ridiculousness I can not help but love it. Its innocence, detail and dimension all make it not only appealing but amusing as well.
Beever holds fast to his whimsical nature making the majority of his illusions depict either ridiculous things or well known subjects that simply make people smile.
This next one is complexly amazing and large.
Beever, Julian. Idea Festival. Louisville (2009). Chalk.
By far the most amazing thing about this piece is the fact that these are all made of chalk which is a trait shared in both Beever and Wenner’s street art. But what would be more incredible than seeing the finished product would be seeing how such a mind-boggling piece could be made from what is commonly considered a novelty. Below is a video of Julian Beever creating yet another magnificent work of art, titled Construction.
Who would have known that something which most people consider a child’s novelty would be the means to create such fun and wonderful masterpieces around the world.
Works Cited
Beever, Julian. Construction. Vienna (2009). Chalk.
Beever, Julian. Idea Festival. Louisville (2009). Chalk.
Beever, Julian. Leaning Slice of Pizza. Zurich (2012). Chalk.
“Julian Bever in Vienna June 2009.” Beevervienna. Youtube.com. 3 Jul. 2009. Web. 9 Aug. 2013 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKakTPiLpxI
Julianbever.net. 2012. Web. 8 Aug. 2013. http://www.julianbeever.net
Kurtwenner.com. 2013. Web. 8 Aug 2013. http://kurtwenner.com/
Wenner, Kurt. Armchair Traveler. London (2011). Chalk.
Wenner, Kurt. Crash Site. California (2011). Chalk.
Wenner, Kurt. Herald Square Celebration. New York (2011). Chalk.
Nate's Thoughts 
The 3D experience is Awesome in these pieces of art work that you chose. Wenner’s art work is some very Beautiful designs and I would say very unique. His depiction of a crash site is very realistic and it makes me feel a little woozy in my stomach. Great Blog this week! I really enjoyed all the pieces of child hood art that you presented.
AWESOME 3-D chalk artwork! I too, did my post on these two magnificent artists. I like the fact that technology these days can allow us to see beautiful artwork done because after it rains, the chalk artwork will disappear. What I don’t really notice what you should have included, is a short biography of these two magnificent artists. Great work though!
Hi, Nate. Really enjoyed your blog this week. I chose 3D street art as well. I really like the theme you chose of how what some would consider childhood novelties are in fact masterpieces of art. Kurt Wenner and Julian Beever are amazing, and I used them as well in my blog. What I like even more is that you chose different works than I did, so it is even more fun to view and review your virtual exhibit. You factual information is spot on. I like your analysis of Wenner’s pieces, especially Armchair Traveller where you call out the whimsicalness within the piece and the irony that the 3D art is, itself, depicting a subject watching 3D television. Brilliant! I also agree that Crash Site has a creepy feel about it. It plays like a movie where you can visualize that an innocuous and random crash has unleashed something deadly and destructive. I also really like the pieces you chose representing Julian Beever’s work, especially Idea Festival. It is really amazing how Beever can create that kind of depth and perspective with simple chalk and pavement. Leaning Slice of Pizza is a very fun piece that makes me kind of hungry. Thank you so much for including the video. It is truly amazing and heightens my admiration for Beever and 3D street art even more. I’ve already shared my general reactions to the pieces you chose, so I’ll just conclude by saying that I find 3D street art absolutely fascinating. It is an engaging and fun development that truly invites the viewer in and provides accessibility to art in an unprecedented way. In some ways, since it is created outside with chalk on pavement, 3D street art also makes use of the fourth dimension of time. It is transitory in nature and only lasts as long as the next hard rain. Better see it while it lasts! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on street art. I really enjoyed your blog.
I love this! I have always enjoyed this 3-D chalk art and I loved all the pieces you chose. I thought you did a great job on this blog, describing each piece and explaining what you liked about them and how you chose them. I thought you met the assignment requirements quite well and I really enjoyed the artwork you chose to display.
Gloria, thank you for your comment. I did give short bibliographies of the artist and their beginning and backgrounds, they are interwoven and cited in the introduction for both the first and second halves.
I really enjoyed all the pieces that you chose for your exhibit along with your descriptions and details about them. Very nice work.
This type of art has always fascinated me. I especially like this background information you did on Wenner and his NASA past. What a life change!
The video was fun and really showed how much time and energy was spent on the smallest detail of Beevers work! It is amazing that all this comes from chalk and a beautiful imaginations!