Laura Elkins - House Art

I love the way artist Laura Elkins uses the exterior of her home on Capitol Hill as a canvas for public art (and it's lovely too!). I'm a huge proponent of public art and anything else that makes it accessible to people beyond a limited art circle. And I'm a huge proponent of activating ordinary spaces in creative and unexpected ways - doing so can draw new people into the art world who would not normally feel comfortable with it under the usual circumstances.

Elkins' art installation also helps redefine what is art. She shows that art can be so much more than the objects that hang on white walls. I've been thinking a lot about how we decide what is "good" art and how we define what art is at all.

I think art encompasses things far beyond paintings and photographs and sculptures. Art can be experiences and interactions that close the gap between art and life. Social artist Rirkirt Tiravanija explains: "It is not what you see that is important but what takes place between people." This kind of art can happen anywhere, even in an old brake shop down the street!

Though I appreciate the skill and execution of great art, I am particularly interested in the ideas and concepts behind it. The art world is filled with exceeding talent, but the artists who capture my attention are the ones who express interesting ideas through their work.

I'm going to think on this some more ....

The Private Home/Public Art Project

Established in 2006, the Private Home/Public Art Project promotes artists who use the exterior of their homes, studios, or any site available to them to exhibit work. PH/P Artists have complete aesthetic control over the work and direct and immediate access to the public. The public, in turn, benefits from a diverse, intellectually invigorating streetscape. The only criteria are that the work is designed as public art, preferably site-specific, and is accessible 24/7. For more info or to commission a permanent or temporary installation on your property, contact Laura Elkins.