mnartists.org: Ray Rolfe

Chuck Close considers his legacy on Oldenburgs Bridge

Ray Rolfe — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 05:47:35 GMT

A double provokation of Claes Oldenburg and Chuck Close. I've just read an article on Facebook, posted by AE Gallery Director. The article was about Chuck Close not exactly being suportive of another artist doing digital art which mimics Closes style. Close threatened legal action saying the "derivative" artworks harmed his legacy. (You can read that here [url=http://hyperallergic.com/54104/my-chuck-close-problem/]http://hyperallergic.com/54104/my-chuck-close-problem/[/url] ) In [url=https://www.facebook.com/jamie.schumacher/posts/101529669992923]the comments following the post[/url], Minneapolis artist Lauri Svedberg mentioned she had a similar problem after posting a 3D painting involving Claes Oldenburgs Spoon Bridge, on Mnartists.org. Apparently Oldenburg himself saw it and made a special request to take it down! So this is my responce to all that funny business. I hope both Chuck Close and Oldenburg see this and get over themselves. Better yet, sue me so I can mount a mini artist carreer off the publicity. Cheers!

image: On the front page of Mnartists.org

1925 Minneapolis Journal, Historic Deepzoom

Ray Rolfe — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 05:17:46 GMT

Very high resolution scans of an 85 year old local news paper, composed together with new technology allowing a very deep zoom ability. This is the front page of the Minneapolis Journals Rotogravure Section from November 8th, 1925. A rarefied treat for the connoisseur. You might love seeing the Minnesota Gophers play the Wisconsin Badgers in Memorial Stadium! I could not find this wonderful image anywhere else on the internet. I take pride at providing it. Also, get a look at the Savage Schoolgirls! Pretty cool jump! Other curious events captured include a John D. Rockefeller "Restoration" and a U.S Ocean liner "rescue". I have uploaded and embedded this experience into a blog format, to be enjoyed by all. You can start exploring here: [url=http://minneapolisjournal.blogspot.com/]http://minneapolisjournal.blogspot.com/[/url]

The Hexagon Bar for Google Earth, 3D Model.

Ray Rolfe — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:44 GMT

I am currently a 3d Model Maker, for Google Earth, in Minneapolis. I've been monitering production this week as I contribute new building models. There are a good group of local artists and students contributing work. http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=39b36172e754c4c578d700d8dbea4021

Christmass Tree Top Fire

Ray Rolfe — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 07:53:37 GMT

My aunts home burned down recently. I went to take pictures. Merry Christmas.

Pilsbury and Soap 3d models for GE

Ray Rolfe — Wed, 10 May 2006 10:29:44 GMT

I am proud to have added both the Pilsbury Mills and The Soap Factory to the Minneapolis googleearth skyline. My first realy great acomplishments in this theater.

Soap Factory test

Ray Rolfe — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 08:19:46 GMT

I live in that solitude which is painful in youth, but delicious in the years of maturity.

image: Towards A Brave New Media

Remote Photography and Time Travel

Ray Rolfe — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 06:22:58 GMT

Remember the old Minneapolis Library? Long gone now in 2005, I happened to be flying and time traveling back to 1997 and I snapped a picture. It's a shame the geodesic dome above the planetarium was destroyed. An insult really. People should have realized what a unique design it was. The old copper scroll is visable too. Well, at least we can time travel and take pictures of the past here at the end of 2005.

pills top view

Ray Rolfe — Wed, 04 May 2005 23:16:07 GMT

hello

Swimming Pool Graves

Ray Rolfe — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 22:55:30 GMT

Webber Park last fall

The Code Allows It

Ray Rolfe — Wed, 23 Feb 2005 03:33:48 GMT

This was hung in the Minneapolis Institute of the Arts for a show called "The Art of Democracy". I created it to influence the current onslaught of building developers in Minneapolis. It is the new Guthrie Theater, still in construction, with a geodesic dome on top. I tried to get as close a color/light match as possible so that it looks as if the dome is really there. I belive it looks like the dome BELONGS there, the Guthrie unfinished without it. The phrase "The Code Allows It", to me, has become a call for topping cillindrical architecture with domes as a necessary finishing touch. The Minneapolis convention center has many "the code allows it" type structures. Look around town, you will see many more. I first heard the phrase from either Shaffer or Richardson. One of the new high density residential developers gave a presentation at the Soap Factory because their massive proposed condo developments will greatly effect our art gallery. Lighting conditions will change, supreme views of downtowns skyline will disappear behind a 30 story building. It's sad to me. Anyhow, there was and may still be some issue about the heights of the buildings in this historic district. The developer was attempting to calm the shock by saying, oh this is just a draft and they probably won't be so large. Something to the effect of everything can change. Speaking for a plot of land behind the Soap, rail track side, which I think should be used to expand Pillsbury Park and preserve the art galleries view of the city, I said "Well how about you just don't build them at all?". Thats when he said it. "Oh but the code allows it, this is what the city wants" Oh really, you speak for the city? I thought, but stayed quite the rest of the presentation. So later I realized, thats how rich people think. The code allows it. Everything can be financed, city subsidies, bank loans, high rents/prices. Hey the rich can do whatever the code allows. So I thought to apply this logic to influence innovation in city planning and building development. Can we have a healthy city with rooftop geodesic housed botanical gardens? SURE! THE CODE ALLOWS IT! Just look at the masonry design. Those guys who built cillindricaly, they were preparing for the future. You can read the master plan, if you know the code. And what the code allows. Idealy, this is the kick-off piece of a whole serries I will do entitled "The Code Allows It". This print is currently in a time capsul under the M.I.A

image: From my laptop

image: to the wall of MIA

image: The people who saw

Ghost of 2004

Ray Rolfe — Fri, 07 Jan 2005 04:08:04 GMT

This is the last good photo I took in 2004. It was December 30th. It warmed up dramaticly for a moment and all the snow melted, then evaporated to create misty clouds by sunset. It was soon again cold as a weird "ice ball" storm moved in. Skyline from left to right includes the Guthrie, Gold Medel Flour, and downtown Minneapolis.

Freelance Photo-documentation

Ray Rolfe — Thu, 30 Sep 2004 09:34:01 GMT

Two pictures I took of the Trevor Nicholas "PlugRug", now on exhibit for BOX FRESH @ Soap Factory. I LOVE the way these turned out. The full shot is weirdly lit by me, and the close up has what i'll call the bright color glitch where hues have changed the white wall reddish.

image: PlugRug close up, For Nicholas

Mirical 3D, Herb Brooks Stereo-Gram

Ray Rolfe — Wed, 22 Sep 2004 05:47:24 GMT

I'm getting good at creating StereoGrams. This is the first one I feel driven to share. I'm very happy about everything it represents. This is the moment beliving in miricals was fullfilled by experiencing one. Technicaly, it's a pretty good stereo gram too. The range of depth is very enjoyable. It works well provided you know how to view this type image. Just relax your eyes and look PAST (beyond) the picture so that the 2 statues merge into one 3d picture.

Friday August Sunrise

Ray Rolfe — Sat, 28 Aug 2004 07:26:56 GMT

The fist picture from my new "crapy camera" that I consider good art. This mornings sunrise. After I processed this I felt like, YES! I nailed it. Photo Noir. It's the only one, of 6 trys, that came out well.

River Roots

Ray Rolfe — Fri, 27 Aug 2004 01:48:07 GMT

Neat tree roots I found.