Memphis, Tenn., November 29, 2016 – The UrbanArt Commission (UAC) and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital® commissioned temporary art installations by four local artists to beautify the St. Jude Memphis Marathon route.
The largest single-day fundraising event for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the St. Jude Memphis Marathon annually expects more than 22,000 participants and nearly 40,000 spectators to come out to support the kids of St. Jude - and view some incredible artwork.
On Saturday,
December 3rd, art projects ranging from wheat pasted posters and
recycled banners to a yarn bombing were found throughout the race, inspiring
runners to go the distance. Local artists include graphic designer EG Balton, Memphis
Knit Mafia founder Christiana Leibovich, and visual artists Carl Scott and
Yancy Villa-Calvo.
EG Balton is a Memphian currently working as a sixth
generation contributor to local sign manufacturing company, Frank Balton Sign
Co., as a designer. She also maintains a studio practice as painter and
illustrator, featuring emotive animals and organic life forms in her work. As
for the St. Jude Marathon artwork— Balton combines her sign design experience
with an appreciation for plant life and its symbolism for positive, life-giving
growth. Her posters are simple reminders that we, like plants and all life
forms on this planet, have the capacity to overcome great odds with
persistence. Her posters seek to acknowledge the efforts and hard work that all
St. Jude Marathon participants have put forth, and to motivate all individuals
on their unique paths ahead with optimism.
Christiana
Leibovich has worked as a
painter, illustrator and makeup artist since high school. After receiving a
crocheted blanket from her Uncle as a wedding gift in 2004, she took up
knitting and a devotion to learning the crafts and traditions of her Grandmother,
her great aunts and her husband’s family. She formed the Memphis Knit Mafia in
2007, and in 2009 began exploring public installations. She now joyfully
combines fine art and craft from her home in Germantown, though she, her
husband, and their daughter still consider themselves lifelong Memphians.
Carl Scott is a local Memphis artist who graduated in
1985 from Memphis College of Art with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Since that
time, he has done enumerable projects, showings, murals, paintings and classes.
Carl continually challenged himself by working with different mediums. The
viewer is drawn into his work by constantly discovering new details and aspects
with every glance. Almost simultaneously, his work evokes feelings of
familiarity and emotional connection. Much of his work can be found throughout
the Mid-South in various galleries, churches, banks, convention centers, hotels
and businesses, and in private collections.
Yancy Villa-Calvo was born in Mexico City and has lived and
traveled in Latin America, Europe and Africa. She received her formal art
education at Christian Brothers University, Memphis College of Art and has been
mentored by national and international artists. Holding a B.A., a B.F.A and an
M.B.A., Yancy frequently exhibits in group and solo shows. Her work is
displayed in private collections in the United States, Mexico, Netherlands,
Brazil, and Israel. She has been in Memphis for over 20 years, where she lives
with her husband Mauricio Calvo and their children Anna, Carolina and Santiago.
Her St. Jude banners represent both the inner strength needed to overcome the
obstacles of the race and the diverse colors of our Memphis community, all
united in this race.
Anthony Lee is a local Memphis artist. His design for the North Parkway Underpass is created to travel with the driver's eye as they traverse the underpass at 40 mph. Contextually, the image conveys transference, as in electricity pushing electrons or waves carrying information. It's a shape pattern to allude to directional current and flow. As an off-center and concentric design, the shape of the wide swathes of washed concrete were drawn and scrubbed in by hand, for the whole vertical height of each form, and then pressure-washed to complete the fill.
For 15 years and
running the St. Jude Memphis Marathon has raised almost $50 million for the
kids of St. Jude. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment,
travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping
their child live. And because the majority of funding comes from individual
contributors, St. Jude has the freedom to focus on what matters most – saving
kids regardless of their financial situation.
UAC extends many thanks
to Theatre Memphis and FASTSIGNS for generously donating recycled banners to provide
a canvas to local artists and make these projects possible.
UAC was founded in
1997 with the mission of enhancing the cultural vibrancy of Memphis communities
through the development of public art. UAC works with a number of different
partners, including the City of Memphis, various arts and community
organizations, and neighborhood associations to commission artists of all media
to consider shared spaces and experiences. For more information, visit www.urbanartcommission.org.
