Otto is featured in City Arts/Tacoma Magazine's October issue.
Otto's 3rd solo show Flora, Fauna, Viruses....OR Trees Make Better People opened November 1 at LA Artcore Brewery Annex and will run through November 30.
Check out a short video of the installation.
Otto installed his latest public art piece "Dewey Decimal's Delegation" at Ridgeview Elementary School in Spokane.
Dewey Decimals Delegation
Otto completed the installation of Dewey Decimal's Delegation in time greet the new school year at Ridgeview Elementary School. Dewey Decimal’s Delegation is a playful piece consisting of four sculptural “pop-up” books from which emerge the wonders of imagination. A diverse cast of characters cluster around three books located in the primary entryway. Each book releases sculptures that seemingly fly through the air ending up in the school’s library where another book is anchored with a resplendent figurehead of Mother Nature. Onions and apples on bicycles, flying pencils, violins, and shoes, schools of fish, and rocket ships are among the over 100 elements that span 60 feet throughout the school hallway. Youngers has created from recycled and reclaimed wood. This piece was commissioned as part of the Washington State Arts Commission’s Art in Public Places Program that allocates ½ of 1% of the construction costs of new state buildings to the creation of public art. Click Here to View Slideshow.
In partnership with Spokane Public Schools and stakeholders at Ridgeview Elementary School, Youngers was selected from a juried roster of artists. Youngers, a father of a 2nd grader wanted to create something that would celebrate the wonder of learning and imagination. “This is a K-6 school. I want this piece to be meaningful to kids at all ages and even teachers. A kid who is starting kindergarten this year will enjoy it and will find different points of interest as he/she gets older” remarks Youngers of the piece.
Inherent in Youngers’ work is an ethic of sustainability. “I only use recycled and reclaimed wood. And I use every bit of it” says Youngers, an avid green thumb. Youngers has grown over 150 trees on his Tacoma property. “Even the sawdust and woodchips go back to the earth as mulch to our gardens.” The combination of wood, its age and provenance create a wonderful palette of color ranging from white to deep dark brown. Considering the prominent primary colors in the new school, the art committee wanted to capitalize on the beauty of natural wood.
The Washington State Arts Commission’s Art in Public Places Program, or the 1/2 of 1% for Art program, was established by the state legislature in July 1974. Washington’s program is the second oldest percent for art program in the nation and is one of only four to include the public school system in its programming. Established in 1961, the Washington State Arts Commission advances and supports arts and culture in Washington State through leadership, knowledge, funding, and resources that build participation in and access to the arts. For more information visit www.arts.wa.gov.
Birds At Breakfast
Birds at Breakfast are new works that will be exhibited at LA Artcore Brewery Annex in November.
Solo Show at LA Artcore November 2008
More great things to come as Otto creates a completely new one-person show for the Brewery Annex at LA Artcore.
Future Feast on Exhibit at Poh-Chang Campus Bangkok, Thailand
Otto just completed his third Thai Arts Festival and workshop presenting at Rajamangala and Srinakharinwirot Universities. Thanks to the Thai Arts Council and Dr. Komol Tassananchalee, Thai National Treasure and Director of the Thai Arts Council and Lydia Takeshita, Executive Director of LA Artcore for the opportunities.
Future Feast at the Rajamangala University Exhibit Opening. For more images from Thai Arts Festivals 08, 07, and 06 and the work Otto created there Click Here.
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