Official Trailer

My current project, "The Cardboard Bernini," will examine the work and life of artist James Grashow as he builds a giant cardboard fountain inspired by the work of the famous Baroque sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini.

James Grashow is an artist who has built—among many other things-- giant fighting men, a city, and an ocean-- using paper mache, fabric, chicken wire and cardboard. More recently, he has begun making sculptures entirely out of corrugated cardboard and twist ties.

Several years ago, while visiting the home of his art dealer, Allan Stone (who was also my father), he stumbled across some of his giant fighting men that had been put outside due to lack of space. They were disintegrating. Although it was deeply painful and shocking for Jimmy to see his work like that, it was also surprisingly beautiful. Jimmy felt that he was seeing the full arc of his artistic enterprise before him—including its end.

So, he challenged himself to embrace the end part of his process, and decided to build a giant cardboard fountain. Inspired by the Italian sculptor Bernini, he decided the piece would ultimately be installed outside to let disintegrate. Work on the fountain began in 2007. I have been following him from the start.

The completed fountain is set to premier in Roanoke Virginia at the Taubman Museum of Art in June 2010. Following that, Jimmy is looking for a site for the sculpture to be installed outside to dissolve.

There are many questions I hope to explore in the film: will Jimmy be able to follow through with his plan? What is the point of art and creation? What is the connection between creation and destruction? Stay tuned for new developments.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• James Grashow
• Art
• Cardboard
• Sculpture
• Floating Stone
• Indie Film
• Allan Stone

[pddarlington]

The amazingly talented Jimmie Grashow... as engaging in person as his work!

[kenkilinski]

We met you and saw your work at the Taubman Museum of Art today! We so much enjoyed it. My daughter was thrilled with you helping her make her cardboard fish and I couldn't be more proud of seeing her finished work hanging there from the second floor. Thank you so much!! Renee

[yogawithcaryl]

I went to look you up online after seeing The Cardboard Bernini at the Taubman today. Although I live in Pennsylvania, my grandmother lives in Roanoke. She is a member at the museum and volunteers there. This work is awesome and the concept is very brave. To work so hard on all of this and follow it through as it decays is very brave. I am hoping there will be information available on where you will be putting the fountain to decay, and perhaps a video of that process, too.

-Brandie from PA

[RAFAELSTRAFACCI]

Jimmy! This is Rafael Dos Santos, Vaughn and I studied under your instruction in Marie Walsh (2006). I still have your golden pencil as well. Thank you for being such a huge role model in my life.

[kakapoopie]

Hey Jimmy! It's Vaughan Ling from Marie Walsh 2006. I still have your golden flying pencil on my desk!

[UTubesrp714]

Hey Jimmy...your name came up in my office today...completely out of the blue...so I came home and looked you up to show my daughter, Mackenzie, your work. She was pretty amazed at your work...then I told her that you're my godfather...be well... - Steven Press

[monte4amy]

Hi Grashow! So great to see you talking & working! We look forward to the exhibit! xxoo, Amy & Monte