The talk of Detroit, at the start of 2011, was the abandoned house at 3926 McClellan that two Brooklyn, NY artists had encased in ice. This image inspired them to think of a totally different kind of architectural installation.  Holm and Radune both live in New York, but Holm is a Detroit nativewho still owns a house there.. The pair were inspired to freeze the house after seeing an image of another house that had been completely enveloped by icicles after a pipe burst. Naturally, the idea of freezing a foreclosed house speaks to the state of housing and the economy, but the creators were as interested in this approach for its visual effect and practical challenge as for the symbolism of the medium.

They came to an arrangement with the Michigan Land Bank to lease a house, from a list of buildings already earmarked for demolition.  In addition the pair paid the back taxes on a foreclosed house so a single mom and her family could move in, as a  gift to the city for letting this project go ahead  in the middle of a neighborhood.

There were some heavy costs to pay for the two enterprising artists, not least licenses for use of a fire hydrant, city water as well as the price of paying police officers to cordon off the street for a morning. They also wanted a world-class cinematic director of photography Rick Sands to supervise the lighting for the final project. In all the pair spent $15,000,  but most of it came from voluntary donations raised through kickstarter.com, a Web site that matches donors with projects. The rest they paid themselves.

At first it seemed that the two artists were simply wanting to highlight the incredible number of repossessed or foreclosed properties in Detroit, adding to the housing crisis, although this interpretation was due to the media running with an idea that had been put forward by outside sources. To quote Holm himself

“It’s grown into something much more than a reference to the housing crisis in Detroit and beyond, and more about the personal quest that this has become and the community that has grown around it. It’s more a testament to my persistence, to me trying to mold Mother Nature.” And she hasn’t been that cooperative, following ice-friendly cold snaps with balmy days that melted the ice but not their resolve.

The actual application of water to the structure lasted just over a month. Due to a very sunny January the attempt at controlling the appearance that our house would take on was met with very modest success. Instead the ongoing process of taking three steps forward and two steps back led to the humbling epiphany that this was a collaboration with the forces of nature. Matthew and Holm each worked 12 hours a day for the month of January and into February but even so, the finish date had to be extended.

The artists’ blog icehousedetroit.blogspot.com calls it an architectural installation and social change project. While waiting for the weather to cooperate the dynamic duo did arrange a food and clothing drive on Martin Luther King Day, but it was really all about the art. The sleepless nights as the team took turns babysitting the house round the clock to make sure it remained intact and that no one could get hurt trespassing.

All the effort proved to be well worth it, I believe, because the Ice House really was a work of art when completed.  It takes the imagination and drive of the young to get things moving sometimes, and these two young men certainly achieved everything they had set out to when they first got started.  This was a wonderful creation, and I for one look forward to seeing what they manage to conjure up next.

     Pumpkin carving has strayed from its roots. (click here to see the Jack-o-lanterns’s origin)  It is now about artistry more than anything;  but such artistry it inspires.  Let’s look at some of the most amazing pumpkin carvings ever done…

This is the handiwork of master pumpkin carver Ray Villafane.  The Predator may very well be scarier here than it was in the movie.

If this doesn’t get a ‘Wow’out of you, nothing will.  It takes the art of carving to an entirely different place, doesn’t it?  The giant squid does exist.  And it’s in Illinois.

Halloween isn’t that big a deal for nerds; hell, they dress up as Jedi every weekend.  But here’s a nerd who took the season to heart.  Who needs CGI?

I’ll admit,  this one creeped me out.  You kind of have to wonder if the person who carved this is all there.

As far as I’m concerned, this is, without a doubt, the coolest jack-o-lantern in the history of pumpkins.  Not only is it Jack… and everything about Jack is cool… but it’s Jack in the creepiest scene in movie history.  This is the carving all other carvings strive to be.

Another nerd masterpiece.  Not the most amazing design, but the the effect lit up is just sweet.

Again, not the most technically sound jack, brt the impact value makes it a classic.

Are you kidding me?  The Parthenon?  This one almost makes you embarrased to put your little scary face pumpkin out.

The Mona Lisa?  Makes you wonder why this guy is wasting his time carving up vegetables.

     So now it’s hard to go back to this…

But fear not… here are a few places you can go to learn how to… well… almost do what these guys did.  Happy Halloween!

http://www.villafanestudios.com/pumpkins.htm

http://www.cool-pumpkins.geraldgore.com/

How can that be? Don’t you have to be good at some creative process or technique in order to be considered creative? Well, consider the word “considered”. Getting rid of that word is the whole key to becoming a more creative person.

Let me explain. Have you ever given a blank page and crayons to a young child? How in the world do they come up with all of the wonderful things they manage to draw on the paper? Trees and flowers and animals and people and activities and the list goes on and on. And when they’re done with their masterpiece, the budding artist is so proud and excited about their artwork, showing it to everyone they can. Is the drawing recognizable as what they were attempting to draw? Perhaps not. Does the child care? Not at all. And that’s the whole point. Creativity is unleashed when other people’s opinions about the artwork don’t matter.

Now, putting that thought into practice as an adult is not always easy. A child doesn’t have to get rid of this concern about what other people think, because they haven’t developed the concern yet. They quickly develop this thought that their artwork or they themselves are somehow inferior, however, when exposed to criticisms. When at home, a young child will usually receive praise about their efforts, bolstering their creativity. It’s a whole other story once school starts, however. Teachers do their best to encourage youngsters to be involved in creative things and ideas, but it can all be undermined by our peers. Yes, children can be cruel. And the older we get, and the more we are exposed to these negative comments or reactions to our work, the more we stifle our own creativity.

How to Get Rid of Your Conditioning

So, how does one go about negating years of conditioning about their own abilities and creativity? As with anything else in life, it takes time. The task may look daunting, but taking it one step at a time it becomes manageable. First, think about what areas you’d like to be more creative in. Perhaps you’d like to do some home decorating. Or maybe write a novel. How about learning to draw? All of these are possible; you have within you the ability to do whatever it is you want to. Don’t sell yourself short. Put out of your mind the thought “I can’t”. The truth of the matter is, you CAN. Belief in yourself is the difference between success and failure. Also, remember that the creative process itself is more rewarding than the thing being created, and MUCH more important than any praise or recognition from other people. So look to being enriched by the experience, and not the finished result.

Ok, so let’s say that you’re interested in unlocking your ability to draw. What can you draw so far? Even if it’s just stick figures, DRAW. Sit yourself down with pencil and a lot of paper, and draw. It doesn’t matter that it still looks like those drawings that we mentioned earlier. No one will see these, just you. Hide your drawing book somewhere if you feel the need. Getting to the point where you don’t care what others think or say about your art takes time, and in the meantime, keep the things you’re trying to yourself. If you’re trying to develop your culinary skills, make small portions and try them yourself, not asking for the opinions of others for now.

So you’re sitting there with your stick figures. What next? Well, think about SMALL changes that you can make. How about feet on the stick figures? Give them hats, or elbows, or a dog on a leash. The idea is to just make small changes, letting your imagination free. Draw. A lot. And don’t care. Don’t care about what other people think, and don’t care about how your work compares to anything else. All that doesn’t matter. It’s just you and your art. When you’re done with one piece, don’t criticize it. Instead, think to yourself that it is good, not that it is good compared to this or that. It feels good to create. Become interested in not the output, but rather the process. The creative process is relaxing, it’s natural, built in. We were created to create! It gives a deep inner satisfaction just to be creating.

As you pursue your art, whatever art that is, you’ll start to get interested in other people’s art, if you aren’t already. That’s a good thing, as long as you don’t compare your art to theirs. This is not a competition, there are no judges. Try to look at, not how good the other person’s artwork is, but rather the techniques they use. Hmm… that person put little clothes on their stick figures. I could try that! Search the internet or your library for tutorials, techniques, samples, or tools pertaining to your chosen field. Examine the way other artists create, rather than what they’re creating.

As you continue observing, learning, trying new techniques, you’ll probably want to set up an area specifically designated for your creative endeavors. Having a desk to draw on, a kitchen stocked with the essentials, or a garage to piece together your visions will enable you to immerse yourself in your creativity, as well as leave it at the ready when attending to the rest of your life! Gradually collect together your artistic implements, rather than going on a shopping spree and purchasing everything at once. Try not to get bogged down in the tools. Instead, get a couple tools, or maybe just one, and work with it extensively before expanding your collection. Familiarity with your tools lends itself much more to creativity than having everything at your fingertips and not knowing how to use them.

Work at your goal to become more creative slowly, remembering to enjoy the process itself. And above all, keep in mind that it doesn’t matter what other people think, you’re not doing it for them. Whatever creative outlet you choose, it can become a pastime, a lifelong hobby or the dream job you’ve been waiting for!