September Press Release from Coudray

The Webmaster

American sculptor Sean McGinnis was born in 1965 in the Great Plains of Kansas (USA).

Based in Paris since 1997, McGinnis is an artist of international stature whose work consists in creating sculptures that are essentially made of vibrantly colored strings and ropes which are articulated, entwined and woven into a complex web to ultimately create architectural arches or hybrid forms that are held in place by the anchoring points existing within the places they inhabit.

The creative predominance of McGinnis echoes the maestria of Christo, the delicacy of Andy Goldsworthy, and the poetical architecture of Gaudi all in one idiosyncratic vision.

His abstract sculptures defy gravity and often contrast with the environment within which they evolve; whether urban or in the middle of a luxuriant nature.

Created on site, these ephemeral entities are intimately linked to their respective sites. The process of installation is an important part of the sculpture itself. Once created, they cannot be moved and most are dismantled after each exhibition. They can be seen as metaphors of the interconnections between beings and their environments.

McGinnis holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Ceramic Sculpture, a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Art History from Fort Hays State University in Kansa as well as a Master of Fine Arts in ceramic sculpture from the University of Arizona, Tucson.

His work has been exhibited in numerous high profile exhibitions throughout France. The artist is currently working on his next monumental exhibition project entitled “The Cathedral of the Wind” which will be realized in 2013.

Le Webmaster

Le sculpteur américain Sean McGinnis est né en 1965 dans les plaines du Kansas (USA).

Basé à Paris depuis 1997, Mc Ginnis est un artiste d’envergure internationale dont le travail consiste à créer des sculptures qui sont essentiellement constituées de fils et de cordes de couleurs vives qui s’interlignent, s’entrelacent et se tissent en toiles complexes pour former des arches architecturales hybrides tenant en place par les points d’ancrage existants dans chacun des lieux qu’elles investissent.

La prédominance créative de McGinnis regroupe la maestria d’un Christo, la délicatesse d’un Andy Goldsworthy, et la poésie architecturale de Gaudi en une seule et même vision idiosyncrasique.

Ces sculptures aériennes défient la gravité et contrastent souvent avec l’environnement dans lequel elles évoluent ; qu’il soit urbain ou au milieu d’une nature verdoyante.

Créées sur place, ces oeuvres éphémères sont intimement liées à leurs sites respectifs. Le processus d’installation forme une partie importante de l’oeuvre. Ne pouvant pas être déplacées, ces oeuvres sont entièrement démantelées à la fin de chaque exposition ; sorte de métaphores des interconnections entres ces entités et leurs environnements.

McGinnis est titulaire d’une licence des Beaux-arts avec spécialisation en sculpture céramique et d’un diplôme d’Histoire de l’Art de l’université Fort Hays du Kansas ainsi que d’un Master de Beaux-arts, avec une spécialisation en sculpture céramique de l’Université de Tucson en Arizona.

Son travail a été exposé à de nombreuses manifestations de haut niveau en France, aux Etats-Unis et dans le monde. L’artiste prépare actuellement son prochain projet monumental intitulé “La Cathédrale du Vent” qui sera dévoilée en 2013.

Press & PR Inquiries: Coudray FSPR+ / coudrayfspr@gmail.com / T. +33 1 43 57 18 40 / Paris – France.

RE.BLOG

great blog for art and installations

Villemomble Installation

Here's an image I found in my files of an installation I did in Villemomble, France, in 2008 for Salons Libres.  I like the installation and the image and haven't published it before, so here it is...

McGinnis.fr Sep 2011 Newsletter

Friends, Enthusiasts, Supporters 

I haven't ever done a newsletter before, but so many things have happened and are going to happen soon that I wanted to keep you in the loop.

If you haven't heard, this is the Year of the POLLOCK-KRASNER FOUNDATION GRANT.  I received a large chunk of money for 2011, which I have used, among other things, to get new equipment and materials, but also used it to hire an assistant and a press-agent.  All are great.  

Nilda, is my ASSISTANT.  She is half-Armenian and half-Turk.  A dancer by trade, she is sharp as a tack, funny and very well organized.  She has completely taken over the website (having had no previous experience in the field) and is also working on grant writing etc.  She'll soon get the chance to "high-wire" on the installation of the next sculpture.

Joyce Bidouzo-Courdray came on board about the same time as my PRESS AGENT.  He is actively promoting my work and finding great opportunities for exhibits and events.  He's a 100% believer and supporter and is an effective communicator.  I am finding him to be a super advocate for my work.  Good job.

I took a two week workshop on using 3D SOFTWARE this summer (3DsMax, if you know it).  Primarily to use as a device for presenting my work for possible projects.  It works great for this, but also is a great creative tool, allowing me to sketch-out ideas, lighting effects etc, before ever attacking the ropes in person.  Lots of examples of this on my webpage and facebook page.

There have been many recent exciting ARTICLES on my work (link to my press page).   Check out the Yatzer article and Inhabitat.  Great text and pix.  Hey, I even got a write-up in Wired Magazine !!  The article isn't the best, but love the platform.  

More even-better articles to come (Vogue Italy, Journal of Design, Superfuture etc).  Sign-up on my blog or on my facebook art page to keep up-to-date.

The gigantic CATHEDRAL OF THE WINDS PROJECT has been launched. (See the link below for more information).  A 100' high cathedral, to be entirely invented from scratch... materials, site, etc.  Not only will the construction be blogged live, but also the conception, and realization of the project from the beginning idea, each step along the way to the ribbon cutting.   (See the preliminary drawings on the site).  More to come as it develops.  Use the flashcode here to follow along :

Just got word of a new installation at JOHANSEN Gallery/Direktorenhaus in BERLIN for October of this year.  It will be in their entry hall for four months and will be inaugurated during a big art conference there.  I'm very excited to be doing a piece in Berlin, which is the epicenter of Contemporary Art today, both production and consumption.  Start of the exhibit is the 26th of Oct and the installation will be in place for four months.  Art Opening the 1 Dec.   Come and join us !!

Other projects are in the pipe-line.  Will keep you posted on the blogs as they develop.

Not to mention, that part of the Pollock-Krasner Grant was used to buy a 3D film set-up, so the next project will be documented in 3D by my very good friend SHANNON BENNA from LA.  She is getting fame as the first woman STEREOGRAPHER of a feature film.  She is not only talented, she is dynamic, smart and creative.  We have been dreaming-up and working toward a collaboration for years.  and, of course, my work will be best documented in 3D.  

Reminder : My work is INTERACTIVE.  The process of installing them is like a PERFORMANCE piece and people are always encouraged and invited to get involved helping in any way they can.  I had 8 volunteers who showed-up out of the woods, when I did the Colorado Project in 2009 and that is part of the art.  Watching it evolve, helping, getting involved.

I think people have a lot of misconceptions and fantasies about being an artist.  Sure, creating is a solitary activity, but other than that part of the process all the rest can't happen without other people (and lots of other people) getting involved.  People need to believe in what you do and support you in words and acts.  Art must be sold, because even artists have to pay their rent at the end of the month like everyone else.  I have gotten all of my exhibits so far by word of mouth.  People who know people who know people who talk to them and tell them about what I do.  That is how it works.  In addition to that, my work is interactive.  People can help build it, follow the progression on my blog, can spread the word and can participate in financing it.  Doesn't seem like much, but it really does make a difference (all the difference, really).  Art in general, but my work in particular, requires the participation of lots of people.  If I am where I am today, it's thanks to all the people who have believed in me and helped along the way.  So, thanks to all of you who've been there for me and helped make my installations possible.  And thanks to you who come aboard and help me get my work out.

So, you are invited personally to be engaged in any of the up-coming projects.  

and if you want to participate, you can even do it from your computer.  I've made a list of things YOU CAN DO from your computer.  There's an extensive list below, see how many you can do and let me know what you did so I can keep track.

Don't know if I will do another newsletter.  Give me feed-back...

See you soon.

Sending love,

Sean

If you are an enthusiast of Sean's work and want to contribute, here's how :  

Participate  (yes, you can help and yes, it does make a difference !! ) :

a few ways (yes, 12 steps :)))) (any, part, or all of them makes a difference. "not perfection, but progress") :

1.  follow the mcginnis.fr blog - click here and sign-up  (leave a comment or two, too  :)

2.  Vote for Sean's work at Landarts.org (be sure to click "voter" AND click on the photo-link to the website to bump-up the "visits" counter too - this can be repeated every 24 hours - 250 votes for first place - 40 votes to take 5th place)

3.  Sign-up to follow Sean's work on his facebook artpage (click on like) (I get a free toaster once the number of followers gets over 500 and we are almost there :)))  (joke)  Actually, once I get over a certain number, there are more options available for the page that make it more accessible.  

4.  Follow updates on the Cathedral of the Wind Project 

5.  Buy a Cathedral of the Wind Project t-shirt and support the cause.

6.  Take a picture of yourself wearing the t-shirt in an interesting place and we'll post it on the site (depends on the photo :)

7.  purchase a Sean McGINNIS artbook at Blurb 

8.  purchase greeting cards, posters or a small string sculpture 

     (all proceeds go to help make the Cathedral of the Winds Project possible. Your help is essential and vital to the eventual realization of the project.  Thanks in advance for your help)

9.  Spread the word : tweet, facebook.  Tell your friends.  Forward this newsletter to them.  The more people onboard the merrier!  

10. "recommend" the article on Sean's work at Yatzer (scroll-down, find the article, click on like and then go to the page and click on the recommend button)

11.  Check-out my website http://mcginnis.fr

12.  Sign-up and follow on twitter : McGinnisFR