The Red Ball Project is street art at its best. It stimulates the imagination of the ordinary person, whether or not they would usually stop to look at art or visit a gallery. So just what is the appeal of a giant rubber beach ball? Its colour? the most passionate, symbolizing love, danger, power, fire and a beneficial sunset. I love to catch the red eye, the overnight coach to an airport. Red is the colour of heat, the fingernails of a confident woman and a woman who wore red shoes wore no knickers! What does red mean to you?
The shape of a ball? A wholeness, as of the earth and the planets surrounding us. Any one of numerous games from the humble marble to the posher polo. Something to reach for, we dance at a ball, maybe on the ball of a foot. A sphere with no beginning or end, tactile and smooth to roll between palms. What image springs to your mind?
RedBall has been travelling the world, Sydney, Barcelona and Taipei and before heading to London it made a brief stop in Exeter. It was seen outside the Guildhall, on the quay and on Saturday I saw it at St Catherines Almshouse, a fifteenth century ruin in the heart of the city. The building, which was bombed in 1942, already has its own urban art, Marking Time, comprising pieces of medieval pottery and glass along with a coke tin that have been enclosed in glass panels is a permanent feature on the site.
When I saw the Big Red Ball I was entranced – but you’ve already guessed that! The artist, Kurt Perschke from Chicago created it to ‘invite you to look afresh at your own surroundings’, I hope you get to see it and look afresh at yours.
You can see the glass panels to the right of the building and behind is the thousand year old tower of St Stephens.
How interesting is that? That’s a real eye catcher! I love street art …. it adds such rich context in the most unusual of places – when done well.
It was cool and I wish I had seen it beside the sea as well!
Fascinating! Is it going to stop anywhere else before London?
Weymouth and Portland Wednesday to Sunday!
Enthralling…I’m not sure if it’s absurd or menacing or cheerful, but I’d love to see it up close! Thank you for the photo, Gilly!
All of the above I think Sharon but wonderful too!
Wow….amazing, Gilly! I love your capture of it! St Catherine’s Almshouse is a gorgeous example of 15th century architecture. So sad “art” like this was bombed.
The whole idea kind of reminds me of the classic children’s book: “The Red Balloon”…nothing like a splash of red to liven things up! What an inspiring post. Thanks!
Book link: http://www.amazon.com/The-Red-Balloon-Albert-Lamorisse/dp/0385003439
Thanks Judy! The Red Balloon rings a bell, a very atmospheric film I believe.
Yes, you are right!
oooh, so exciting, what a great big ball …. we did not see it in Sydney but how wonderful it looks in your graceful ruin … and a wonderful post on red gilly …red for danger, for a thrill, for daring and delight!
I’m cross that I didn’t see it anywhere else and on a sunny blue sky day!
Interesting story Gilly! It’s like Letters from Felix: A Little Rabbit on a World Tour!!
On a smaller less cute scale
Cool…when it gets to London I’ll have to check it out. Thanks for the tip and lovely shot.
Hope you get to see it next week!
A good objective. Many people have little or no idea or appreciation of the wonders on the own doorsteps.
If everyone walked around with a camera they would see far more!
It’s a fascinating concept – but I’m not quite getting it. Is the red ball placed in areas where there is notable street art, encouraging people to take a look? Or is there art inside the red ball? Is it a traveling gallery? Or is the red ball the art? Any which way, it is a great way to advertise urban artwork, so I applaud that! Thanks for an interesting and thought provoking post, Gilly!
The red ball is the art! or not if you don’t think so! and it is meant to be encouraging people to notice their surroundings
A very fascinating concept
and great fun!
How interesting! It seems intriguing, and a bit incongruous, atop that ruin
It was quite squashed in there and great fun!
Wow, that one old be difficult to miss or even ignore. What a unique way to call attention to something,
I think its brilliant and it makes people smile so that can’t be bad:-)
Wow! That is amazing… I haven’t heard of it.
I don’t think it’s hit the States which is a shame isn’t it?
That would certainly cause people to stop and look! Was the a voice from above saying, “Can I have my ball back, please?”
You know I believe there was!
That is sooooo cool!
I hope you get to it!
Can I simply say WOW? What’s not to like. It gets people talking and that’s a GOOD thing.
Love this …. it’s so fascinating.
You psot the most interesting things, Gilly.
Fabulous photo.
Toodles ….
I heard about the Red Ball coming to Exeter and then somehow missed it… so it is so good to see what it looked like. I’m glad it was in St Catherine’s- I do like visiting there when in Exeter. As someone commented before, Exeter was bombed quite badly (1942) but we still have lots of historic buildings that survived. Good to have the “modern” on top of the ancient….
It was great fun, I would have liked to see it at the Guildhall and on the quay as well. I’ve seen photos of it in London where it looked dwarfed by its surroundings so I think Exeter was the perfect place!