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ArtWorks is a Cincinnati-based, nonprofit organization dedicated to impacting the community through art. Through public art displays, art therapy and entrepreneurialism, ArtWorks employs and trains local talent within the Cincinnati area. As a part of its Public Art program, murals are designed and painted on building walls within the city. In 2012, ArtWorks constructed a mural in memory of the work of Charley Harper.

An Eye-Catching Statement

A huge 4,700 square foot building side is covered by a visual based on the painting “Homecoming (Bluebirds)” by Charley Harper. Two beautifully geometrical bluebirds are painted hovering on either side of a birdhouse, echoing the image painted by Harper. The image is split onto two parts with building windows peeking in between.

Artist Jenny Ustick worked with two art teachers and a group of twelve teenage students to construct the painting visible from Court Street. Each year millions of viewers witness this spectacular Cincinnati monument dedicated to Charley Harper.

ArtWorks has now created 67 murals in the Cinci area since 1996. Other creative public display projects of ArtWorks include:

• 14 sculptural bike racks
• 19 ArtCars mobile masterpieces
• 24 Metro Art bus shelters

A Cinci Great

Harper impacted the art world with his unique approach to the illustration of nature. His animal portraits are geometrical and flat, yet remain recognizable through a minimalist use of realistic colors and shapes. . Using pattern and simplified shape, Harper created impactful and memorable images.

This beautiful tribute to the work of Harper is a proud statement within the city which touts Harper as one of its own. . A graduate of the Cincinnati Art Academy, Harper learned to illustrate wildlife in great detail and realism. He also taught at the Cincinnati Art Academy before he moved towards his, now iconic, stylized approach.

The beauty of Harper’s simplicity and color is captivating in its large-scale rendition. Peaceful and serene, the bluebird painting is wonderfully replicated in an impressive scale. The mural was planned and constructed as part of a project to add beauty and creatively transform the city.

Sources:

http://www.jennyroeselustick.com/murals.html, http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20120820/LIFE/308200056/, http://randomthoughtsfrommidlife.wordpress.com/tag/homecoming-bluebirds/

Discover the Natural World with Charley Harper

 

Charley Harper spent his life deeply committed to ecological causes and the science behind ecology. Through his art, he supported numerous causes within that realm. Human beings are all linked together through the experiences they have on the planet, and an ecological issue in one area of the world is not limited to that area’s population. These types of issues know no physical or geographical boundaries. Soticgyruter Through his work “Wings of the World,” Charley showed how nature is not focused on national borders and that preserving the environment should be something on each person’s mind, no matter where in the world they live.

The Places Charley Loved

Charley worked his magic to show the value of ecological issues in a lot of different places. Some notable places include:

• Glacier Bay
• Monteverde Cloud Forest
• Numerous National Parks

Most of his subject matter was carefully and thoughtfully focused on the natural world, whether that was through the creation of works based on animals or plants. One of Charley’s most noticeable attributes was his ability to capture the beauty of each place that inspired him. His vision was strong, and he was able to preserve what he saw in the places he visited. The rich landscapes and scenic vistas were all brought to life by Charley’s expert hands. So were the animals he loved – especially the birds. With his beautiful, minimalist style, he was once quoted as saying: “I never count the feathers in the wings; I just count the wings.”

Charley’s Stance on Global Warming

One of his most passionate topics was Global Warming. While others debated whether it was real and who or what might have caused it, Charley was busy creating artwork that showed the damage that was being caused and how valuable the creatures were whose habitats were being irreparably damaged by the changing climate. The decline of migratory birds was also a passion of Charley’s. His “Mystery of the Missing Migrants” highlights this issue, and the plight of the birds as their numbers continued to thin and shrink.

Biodiversity

Charley showcased the biodiversity of the planet in many of his works, ensuring that those who viewed them and learned about his stance on ecological issues would never be the same. Developing an understanding of an issue is the first step toward solving it, and Charley wanted people to understand. Even something as seemingly simple as changes in the numbers and patterns of migrating birds have a significant effect on other areas of the ecosystem. In turn, changes to that ecosystem further affect the birds. It becomes an advancing and unending cycle, and Charley was dedicated to making sure people realized that.

 

No one had a stronger impact on the art world from an ecological standpoint than Charley Harper. Nearly all of his work was focused on animals, birds, insects, plants, and the natural world.  Through his work, Charley helped everyone to remember that we are all interconnected. There should be no “us against them” when it comes to this planet, because we all live here – and we all have a finite number of resources.

Simple changes to one ecosystem may seem insignificant, but Charley’s work emphasized that the significance of even small changes was much larger than many people believed. Charley believed it was “A Good World,” and wanted to see it stay that way.

 

 

Climate Change

He was passionate about climate change, and the way the planet’s flora and fauna was changing with it. Charley supported many different things, like:

• funding local parks
• stopping the slaughter of Harp seals
• protecting the Arctic
• preserving water ecology

 

 

If the issue was one of ecology, Charley was there. He was deeply moved by the issue the planet was facing, and that could be seen throughout everything he created during his time. . Ecology is a serious issue, and one that’s often overlooked in the day to day movement that is life. By bringing the seriousness of the plight of the planet into the art world, Charley became an innovator.

 

Limited Resources and the Value of the Environment

Anyone who buys Charley’s work can have not only a beautiful piece of artwork for their home, but also a good reminder that we have limited resources here on this beautiful blue marble we all call home. If we don’t take care of it, future generations could be left with very little. That’s true of people, but also true of every other creature on the planet. Even though Charley is no longer around, his life was spent showcasing what he thought was important. He helped to bring about a movement in the art world that recognized important topics and asked people to think deeply about the choices they were making.

Charley’s Dedication to Awareness

While there is no guarantee that change will be affected in time to stop issues like Climate Change, the only way to have any hope of stopping or slowing those types of issues is through awareness. Making people aware can be difficult, but art is something to which almost everyone responds. It’s an amazing way to reach out to people, and to touch their hearts in ways that might not have been possible otherwise. By doing that, Charley made an impact in the art world that spread many ripples out to the community beyond it. He helped everyone remember that the planet really is “A Place to Call Home” and should be taken care of and cherished.