Art & Technology #29: Bill FitzGibbons

The Art Deco underpass built in 1931 is an essential gateway that links the central part of Alabama and the Railroad Park, a new urban place; the area surrounding the underpass had been known for years as dark and dangerous. In order to clear the bridge’s name and turn it into a lively passage walked by many people, the city proposed a commission to Bill FitzGibbons, a sculptor and a public artist. He used hundreds of LED lights to paint the passage under the bridge, where there used to be nothing but grey cement, with fascinating colors. Thanks to the various light patterns, the bridge constantly turns into thousands of different colors, presenting an ever-changing view according to the time of visit. In order to introduce bright and alluring lights to liven up the city becoming increasingly desolate because of the rapid urbanization, FitzGibbons added light art to an ordinary structure. After being shed with a new light by the artist, the structure and its colorful artificial lights became a major spot where anyone can visit and enjoy. FitzGibbons brought a change with art to an underpass, which was a facility that people did not recognize as important, resulting in the underway that used to be only a passage for people to walk to become a destination by itself.

Susanne Seitinger, City Innovations Manager for Philips Color Kinetics, commented about public art using light, saying “There’s a growing awareness of these types of installations and their potential. It’s a big topic for urban designers, it’s a big topic for planners, it’s a big topic for city leaders.” Her remark indicates that the combination of ideas from artists and technology has expanded the boundary of art infinitely. Technology art measures using light and expanding into various forms and directions are crucial to public art. It would be a different experience for the public to see the grey building that had been forgettable or hideous transforming into an art piece shone with dazzling lights. In this respect, it can be said that the works of FitzGibbons demonstrate public-friendly expressions that allow the viewers to see and feel by themselves, rather than other contemporary art approaches often seen as difficult. FitzGibbons is working hard to continue to create public art pieces that interact with the viewers. We believe that his works will help people who are tired of the mundane daily lives to regain new vitality and energy. ■ with ARTINPOST

American public artist Bill FitzGibbons studied in the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and Washington University in St. Louis. He received the Outstanding Alumni Award from The University of Tennessee in 2010. The artist curated Laumeier Sculpture Park in St. Louis, Missouri in 1979 and has been appointed as the Director of Sculpture at the Visual Art Center in Anchorage, Alaska from 1985 to 1988. He had also worked as the Executive Director of Blue Star Contemporary Art Museum from 2002 to 2013, with his enterprise being recognized as well as his creative works. He also became the Head of Sculpture Department of San Antonio Art Institute in 1988, and taught at Trinity University in San Antonio as an adjunct professor. He also taught at the Hungarian Art Academy in Budapest in 1993. FitzGibbons is a member of the board of the International Sculpture Center and also a founding member of the Texas Sculpture Group (TSG), established in 2011.