A giant “tape art” mural is currently underway in Buffalo. Based out of Providence, RI, Tape Art is continually out on the road, visiting communities in search of walls where the temporary art form is best suited. The Tape Art mural that is being adhered to the north wall of the Downtown Public Library (along Broadway) will be completed by Thursday. The factions behind the public art initiative are the Albright-Knox (AK) and the County-funded Public Art Initiative.
It turns out the one of the Tape Art artists is Kristen Carbone (Executive Director of Tape Art), who originally hails from Buffalo, and once did a stint at the AK. She told me that the work being done at the site is not exactly planned in advance, rather it is a freeform exercise that is location and weather dependent. She was very pleased to be working at the library site and shared with me that the work is intended to create a temporary infusion of invigoration to places that might not otherwise be readily noticed or frequented (in some cases). To add to the interest of this particular installation, flashlights were cut in half and adhered to the wall in order to create a three dimensional lighting component. If the group has time, they will incorporate LED lighting into the work, which will then be illuminated at night.
Tape Art is a stable of public artists that focuses on promoting the use of tape as an art form. The works can range from miniature to giant, intricate to bold, simple to mind blowing. The international movement continues to grow, being led by communities such as Tape Art – a group that has been practicing, applying and promoting its art trade for 25 years.
The public work in Buffalo, titled Piece Buffalo Caverns, will be on display until August 29, 2014.
You can visit Tape Art on Facebook, or at this website.