THE FLATULENCE POST
The latest addition to Mirror Art at the American Visionary Art Museum. If you have a sense of humor, continue reading. Here
is a picture of the Exhibit. There is a video on YouTube about this exhibit; to see it, click here - VISIONARY FARTS
For more information, details and individual pictures, click HERE.

THE MIRROR ART BEEHIVE
AT THE INTERCONTINENTAL HARBOR COURT HOTEL

Early in the summer of 2011, the InterContinental Harbor Court Hotel in Baltimore's Inner Harbor was selected as a location for a beehive as a participant in a program by the local non-profit organization BaltimoreHoney.org. This is a dedicated group of people who provide the Baltimore area with honeybee hives that house local, genetically diverse, non aggressive honeybees that spend their days collecting nectar and pollen from all over the area. The apiary at the InterContinental Harbor Court Hotel is located in the beautiful third-floor plaza which contains lush foliage and flowers, and the honeybees are very happy with this environment. The Hotel, after talking with Rebecca Hoffberger, founder and director of the amazing nearby American Visionary Art Museum, commissioned a mirror art beehive for the plaza. This project was designed and executed by the team of Bob Benson and Rick Ames. A model beehive made primarily of fibreglass was found in a Chicago warehouse of Montgomery Ward's where it had been used in a window display. It is quite large, approximately 5 ft. wide and 5 ft. high and was not in good condition when it was delivered to Benson's home in Glen Burnie. Here it received many hours of preparation and repairs, removal of previous paint, and many coats of primer and new paint, all expertly handled by Rick Ames. Benson then started on the mirror decoration using many different types of mirrors with the accent on gold and honey colors. The BeeHive was moved to the Hotel after preliminary decoration; otherwise it would be difficult to move because of its weight. When it was delivered to the Hotel it was necessary to have a crane lift it to the third floor plaza, and once it was in place, over a period of more than three weeks, it was decorated. There are thousands of pieces of individually cut mirrors in the work. The results can be seen above. It is resting on a solid treated wood base which was made by the Hotel's engineering staff. At the top of the BH one can see dozens of small mirror "bees" buzzing about; they always seem to be moving in the breeze, and in the center at the top there is a Queen Bee, although it is difficult to see her in this photo. This mirror art BeeHive was not made for real bees, just to artistically display their beauty and achievements. Visitors are welcome to see the Beehive at the Hotel at any time, but it must be viewed from one of the many adjoining corridors that surround it. It was a pleasure to work with the delightful staff of this spectacular hotel! If you have property that would benefit from hosting a honeybee hive, contact baltimorehoney.org

FLASHIES

Flashies are simple strands of double mirrors hanging on a filament made from strong fishing filament. They are weather-proof and can be hung outside where it is breezy and sunny—they will make a constant show of flashing lights in your yard. Or they can be hung in a sunny window—where they will make a shiny display for you.

FLOWER/BUD VASES
Never being able to find an appropriate vase to hold flowers or single blossoms, Bob made them out of mirrors. They are water-proof, will never tip over, and surely complement the flowers.

THE TREE (S) AT THE AMERICAN VISIONARY ART MUSEUM

In early summer of 2005, AVAM wished to have the oak tree outside their main entrance on Key Highway next to the Inner Harbor decorated with mirrors. Benson made all of the mirror decorations, and the trunk of the tree was decorated with mirrors as well. This major project would not have been possible without the design and installation expertise of my next door neighbor, Rick Ames, a superb artist working primarily in metal and sculpture (check out his BIO). Decoration of the tree (here called TREE ONE) was very successful — see pictures of it HERE.

HOWER, THERE WAS A PROBLEM!! When we first began to decorate THE TREE it was obvious it was severely stressed. There were many termites, along with bag caterpillars, and the tree was not long for this world. It died in the fall of 2006, was removed—and replaced with LIVE TREE TWO.

Pprofessionally planted in November 2006, this was a smaller oak tree and seemed to be very healthy. We wanted this tree to remain healthy and were able to secure, with the help of Baltimore artist Gene Winford, a metal "girdle" about five feet high that wrapped around the entire tree trunk. Rick Ames worked his magic in augmenting the metal "girdle" by attaching eight-foot iron extensions to each of the vertical bars. All of the heavier decorations for the tree were hung from this to avoid stress on the tree itself. The "girdle" was then covered with mirrors, with an exotic, wildly-colored "vine" made from colored mirrors encircling the entire trunk. Tree Two looked quite spectacular and you can see some pictures of it HERE, the way it looked in May 2007. If you look closely, you'll see all sorts of intriguing "creatures" including a pair of flamingos, a penguin, a cat, a dog, a frog, an octopus and various other odd things, along with a wide range of glittering, shimmering flashies.

THEN, A PROBLEM!!

Tree Two appeared to be vibrantly healthy in the spring of 2007. Then it suddenly died!! Inspection showed the soil around the tree was infested (as before) with termites, even though it had been treated for this problem. There was no way to save Tree Two.

NOW, TREE THREE (!!!!!)

This large tree "sculpture" (the highest point is about 21 ft. off the ground), rests on a "trunk" about 7 ft. high. This trunk is made of strong steel and covered with mirrors decorated with vines enricling the entire trunk, with many different colors of mirrors used. The base of TREE THREE begins at the top of the trunk, and is about 9 feet wide at the bottom. The nine layers of metal "branches" were made by Rick Ames. These branches are decorated with thousands of pieces of mirrors and it creates a dazzling display in sunlight. The Visionary Art Museum has called this "The Universal Tree of Life, and it is a part of AVAM's permanent collection, in conjunction with their new show "Religions of the World" which opened in October 2007. For pictures of TREE THREE, click HERE.

There are two brief movies of the Mirror Tree on YouTube. Here are the links:
A brief movie of The Universal Tree of Life, taken by Baltimorean Emory Isaacson, can be viewed on YouTube:
Movie taken by Baltimorean Emory Isaacson: MIRROR TREE AT AVAM
UNIVERSAL TREE OF LIFE AT AVAM

THE ICARUS REFLECTING OCEAN AT AVAM

Late in the summer of 2005, AVAM acquired a magnificent large statue of Icarus created by British artist Andrew Logan , made from mirrors and stained glass. This statue hangs in the center hallway of AVAM’s main building, mounted so that it very slowly turns as it moves up and down, at the highest point being near the AVAM ceiling, lowest point about ten feet above the floor. AVAM requested the team of Benson/Ames to make a “reflecting pond” of mirrors below Icarus, and the result was OCEANUS, the name given to the mirror creation whichsymbolically represents the ocean into which Icarus fell. The Pond is about 17 feet long and six feet across at the widest point. It is made of thousands of pieces of mirror, each individually cut and formed into various shapes. The vertical six inch high ring around the entire pond, made from strands of half-inch double quarter-inch mirrors, contains more than 6,000 pieces. Since initial installation in September 2005, the pond has been elaborated considerably. Here are some pictures of THE POND including much of the detail elements.

Now, something NEW! Icarus now has The Sun to fly to!
The Sun is 5 ft. in diameter and made from thousands of pieces of colored mirror primarily in red, gold and silver. It is sturdily constructed, made from one sheet each of regular plastic and 1/4 inch plexiglass, with stainless steel mounting hooks. It was built in May 2009, and here is a picture of it in Benson's home awaiting pickup by the AVAM crew:

And here is a picture of the AVAM crew: George Geary and John Wall, carrying The Sun
to the AVAM trailer for delivery to AVAM. The Sun was installed in October 2009.

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Here is The Sun shining above Icarus at the American Visionary Art Museum. It is mounted so it can slowly rotate 360 degrees, just as Icarus does.

WORKSHOPS

Workshops are given at the American Visionary Art Museum and in Bob's studio in his home in Glen Burnie. The next AVAM workshop will be Saturday, May 11, 2013, 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. To register, call 410 244-1900. Listed below is the current workshop schedule in Benson's mirror art studio in Glen Burnie (149 Midland Road, Glen Burnie, 21060). Classes limited to 8 participants. $40 per person including supplies and materials. Evening workshops can be scheduled for 4-6 students. For information or to register: email: trebor36@comcast.net

There are no Glen Burnie workshops currently scheduled, but one can be scheduled for 4 students or more; call 410 761-2451/

PICTURES OF WORKSHOPS click HERE

THE BISHOP'S RING

In honor of Archbishop Desmond Tutu's visit to the American Visionary Art Museum January 21, 2006 at AVAM's Tenth Anniversary Celebration, Bob designed and made a mirrored symbolic rendition of a Bishop's Ring to present to Archbishop Tutu. The Ring was made from 1/4" inch mirror, and is about 4 1/2 inches wide.

MIRROR CITIES

These "cities" are made from paired pieces of quarter-inch mirrors glued together.
They are visionary "cities" that make a great show in bright light.