Body Found At Az 88
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We’ve been disappointed with the design community here in town for quite some time now. Few in it are original. Or good. Or seem to really even genuinely care. But what’s that got to do with the food biz, you ask? At AZ 88, everything.
You see, for years AZ88 has held court on our list of places that serve food that has no need to change—burgers, wings, sandwiches… It’s also on our list of places for a dose of culture, because the kooky Annie Lennox-esque designer, Janis Leonard, swaps out massive art installations in the space every couple months. They’re more often than not, pretty damn good. Right now, though, the art’s by someone else and we were pretty ecstatic to hear who’s behind that eye-catching dead girl up on the wall.
Truth be told, we didn’t know she was dead. It’s a human form seemingly laying down with a sheet over her, as if gravity had taken a 45-degree turn and that wall were now the floor. It’s angelic, kinda creepy, and really neat, for lack of a better word. Turns out that this piece is an installation by one of those few good designers in town—Bill Tonnesen.
First thing you’ve got to know about Tonnesen, is that he’s #$%^&ing crazy. Like mad scientist crazy. Next thing you’ve got to know about Tonnesen is that he’s smarter than all of us, in a “What year did Hieronymus Bosch paint ‘The Garden of Earthly Delights?’” kinda way.
An avid researcher of art history, Tonnesen is constantly looking for ways to make ideas explored throughout history come alive today. Which how we now know that the chick on the wall is supposed to be dead. This week, Tonnesen sent out an e-newsletter to friends explaining the work. First, look at this:
Tonnesen says the artist “Theodore Gericault was 27 in 1818 when he painted this romantic icon. 146 men and one woman climbed on a makeshift raft when the French frigate Medusa ran aground off the west coast of Africa in 1816. After 13 days only 15 were still alive … The work references the dead and desperate survivors in Gericault’s dramatic painting … [He] spent 10 months planning his massive canvas. He built a scale model of the raft and worked near a hospital to study the dead and dying. The painting itself took 8 months during which he lived a monastic life. His assistant posed for three of the figures.” Tonnesen goes on to explain that Gericault had a nervous breakdown because the piece didn’t sell. Then he gets into his own work.
“After blocking out a configuration with our model, Alexis, measurements and photographs are taken before silicone molds are made … The finished work is cast and sculpted in resin and white plaster … [It] contains a steel skeleton and is filled with a very strong expanded foam. [The] finished body weighs about 75 pounds.”
Tonnesen’s doing a series of these up on the AZ88 wall. Looking at it, now, after knowing that it was inspired by Gericault, it all makes sense. It’s really a beautiful piece that sounds like it required painstaking effort. Thankfully, Tonnesen doesn’t have to sell it (putting him at risk of a nervous breakdown). The pieces will eventually go into his yard, which he’s now calling “Sculptureland.”
Told you he was crazy. Also told you he’s one of the good ones. Go check out the art, get a burger, and enjoy the intersection of food and design … good design, that is.
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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by EATERAZ, Megan Finnerty and Mr. P-body, Mr. P-body. Mr. P-body said: EaterAZ.com article about the wonderfully consistent fare and astounding artwork goin on at AZ/88. Check it out!… http://fb.me/sFr0Q9Fz [...]