Read Ebook {PDF EPUB} Untitled by A.K. Wilder pit – art in public space. Artworks installed in public space might get the approval of local governments but that doesn’t mean that they will make a good impression on passersby. Or on people genuinely interested in art. Too many public artworks i come across are bland and sad addition to the city or the landscape. I suspect that some of them ‘dialogue’ with the surrounding space only in the mind of the artists and/or the commissioners. Fortunately there are exceptions to the rule (and the future might even get rosier.) Take the province of Limburg in Belgium where Z33, the house for contemporary art has launched pit – art in public space. A few years ago, the art space invited established names and young talents to visit several sites in the region, pick up the one they’d like to work with and then submit a project that would engage with the cultural background of the area and entice passers-by to look differently at the surroundings. The result is pit – art in public space. Florentijn Hofman, De Badeend, Neerpelt, 2012. Florentijn Hofman, De Badeend, Lommel, 2012. Florentijn Hofman, De Badeend, 2012. Badeend (the Rubber Duck) by Florentijn Hofman kicked off Z33’s art in public space programme back in 2008. Since then, the duck has been deflated, inflated again, turned into bright shoulder bags and resuscitated on several occasions. In 2011, pit commissions have spread all over the region of Borgloon-Heers and they might venture even further in the coming years. Gijs Van Vaerenbergh, Reading between the Lines. Photo: Kristof Vrancken / Z33. Gijs Van Vaerenbergh, Reading between the Lines. Photo: Kristof Vrancken / Z33. Gijs Van Vaerenbergh, Reading between the Lines. Photo: Kristof Vrancken / Z33. Gijs Van Vaerenbergh, Reading between the Lines. Photo: Kristof Vrancken / Z33. The programme’s most talked about public artwork is the see-through building of steel built by architects duo Pieterjan Gijs and Arnout Van Vaerenbergh in the middle of Borgloon’s corn and apple fields. The 10 metre high structure has the archetypal shape of the churches found in the region. Because it is both almost transparent and highly visible, the construction provides an opportunity to have another look at the landscape. It also attracted tourists who would otherwise have never thought of visiting the area (some of them even came from Japan after the church had made the cover of an architecture magazine.) The building is smaller than i had thought but it is just as stunning as on the photos above. Wesley Meuris, Memento. Photo: Kristof Vrancken / Z33. Wesley Meuris, Memento. Photo: Kristof Vrancken / Z33. Wesley Meuris, Memento. Photo: Kristof Vrancken / Z33. Wesley Meuris, Memento. Photo: Kristof Vrancken / Z33. Wesley Meuris‘s Memento is a sculpture built by the Borgloon cemetery. The steel structure, with its peculiar acoustics and sci-fi whiteness, envelops the visitor while giving them a perspective on the sky and slices of the surrounding landscape. I think it’s the first time i entered a cemetery to see a contemporary art work. Dré Wapenaar, Tranendreef. Photo: Kristof Vrancken / Z33. Dré Wapenaar, Tranendreef. Photo: Kristof Vrancken / Z33. Dré Wapenaar, Tranendreef. Photo: Kristof Vrancken / Z33. Dré Wapenaar, Tranendreef. Photo: Kristof Vrancken / Z33. Some of the works remain in place for several years, others can be seen for only a short time. Last Summer, Dré Wapenaar hung four tear-shaped tents on trees. People could book a tree and spend the night up there. Ardie Van Bommel, Field Furniture “Pure Nature”. Photo: Kristof Vrancken / Z33. Field Furniture “Pure Nature” by Ardie Van Bommel completed the tree tents. The designer had installed toilets, showers and barbecue unit where the tree guests could clean up, eat and socialize. Tadashi Kawamata, project Burchtheuvel. Photo: Kristof Vrancken / Z33. Tadashi Kawamata, project Burchtheuvel. Photo: Kristof Vrancken / Z33. Tadashi Kawamata, project Burchtheuvel. Photo: Kristof Vrancken / Z33. Tadashi Kawamata, project Burchtheuvel. Photo: Kristof Vrancken / Z33. Japanese artist Tadashi Kawamata headed a workshop where students in architecture, interior architecture and visual arts designed and built Project Burchtheuvel , a wooden sculpture where people can walk up, observe the landscape and relax. The work also scored brownie points because it almost hid the nearby library, a building which hideousness i’d rather not comment. Aeneas Wilder, Untitled #158. Photo: Kristof Vrancken / Z33. Aeneas Wilder, Untitled #158. Photo: Kristof Vrancken / Z33. Aeneas Wilder, Untitled #158. Photo: Kristof Vrancken / Z33. Aeneas Wilder, Untitled #158. Photo: Kristof Vrancken / Z33. Aeneas Wilder built a round construction with a 360º view on the landscape near the Monastery of Colen in Kerniel. Walking around the structure reminds visitors of a meditative promenade in the internal garden of a monastery. Not that everyone uses the space to collect their thoughts. When i visited children were using it to skate and cycle. And the list goes on… Fred Eerdekens, Twijfelgrens. Photo: Kristof Vrancken / Z33. Photo: Kristof Vrancken / Z33. Photo: Kristof Vrancken / Z33. Photo: Kristof Vrancken / Z33. The artworks are also accompanied by workshops, side activities and public events. The smartest way to see them is to rent a bike and cycle from one to the other. This post wasn’t sponsored in any way by the local tourism office. Maybe next time i’ll try and get a gigantic inflatable duck though. pit | Z33 – art in public space: photo collection. Untitled by A.K. Wilder. CHICAGO (thefutoncritic.com) -- The latest development news, culled from recent wire reports: Looking to keep track of all the various pilots and other projects in development? Be sure to check out our detailed production chart listings by clicking here. 3: THE DALE EARNHARDT STORY (ESPN) - Barry Pepper ("61*") is set to play the legendary NASCAR driver in the ESPN biopic, which is scheduled to begin production this summer in Charlotte and Atlanta for a December 2004 premiere date. The actor will also executive produce the project alongside Orly Adelson ("The Junction Boys") with Russell Mulcahy ("Skin") directing from a script by Robert Eisele ("Resurrection Blvd."). THE AMAZING WESTERBERGS (CBS) - Kathleen Rose Perkins ("Without a Trace," "Miss Match") has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, which stars Chris O'Donnell and Jay Harrington as two brothers who were raised believing they were extraordinary. She'll play Kate in the Sony Pictures Television/CBS Productions comedy, from executive producers Jay Sherick and David Ronn ("Spin City"). BANZAI (FOX) - Comedy Central has snagged the rights to the short-lived FOX series and will begin airing the show Thursdays at 10:30/9:30c beginning next month. The deal includes the broadcast rights to all 10 produced installments (four of which never aired on FOX) as well as the option to produce new episodes. A paltry 4.77 million viewers on average tuned into the series during its six-week run on FOX last summer. Nevertheless, Comedy Central executives were reportedly impressed by its performance in several key male demographics: men 18-34 (1.1 million) and 2.6 among men 18-49 (1.6 million). BEHIND THE CAMERA: THE UNAUTHORIZED STORY OF 'CHARLIE'S' ANGELS' (NBC) - The Peacock has rescheduled the telefilm, the second in its "Behind the Camera" franchise, for Monday, March 8 at 9:00/8:00c. BLACKWATER (Sci Fi, New!) - The cable channel is developing a four-hour mini-series adaptation of Michael McDowell's six-book series, which follows one family through different generations and how they are impacted by the fact that their matriarch has supernatural powers. McDowell is best known as the screenwriter of such films as "Beetlejuice" and "The Nightmare Before Christmas." Scott Stewart, co-founder of the Orphanage, a San Francisco-based production company specializing in visual effects ("The Matrix," "Spy Kids 3-D"), has been tapped to adapt the books to the small screen, and will executive produce along with Orphanage head of production Amy Israel. The project is co-produced by Sony Pictures Television, Mandalay Television and the Orphanage. BLUE ALOHA (FOX, New!) - Brent Forrester ("The Simpsons," "Undeclared") is behind a new animated comedy pilot presentation at the network, a family comedy set in Hawaii. The project is set up at Carsey-Werner-Mandabach ("That '70s Show," "Grounded for Life") and will be executive produced by the studio's Marcy Carsey, Tom Werner and Caryn Mandabach. The news marks FOX's fifth animated project in development as "Blue Aloha" joins Seth MacFarlane's "American Dad," a small screen version of the comic strip "The Boondocks" and untitled projects from Phil Hendrie and Jonathan Katz. CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE (CBS) - Jean Smart ("In-Laws") is set to star opposite John Goodman in the comedy pilot, which centers on a family man who tries to keep the peace with his extended Chicago family. She'll play Goodman's wife in the Warner Bros. Television/CBS Prods./Tannenbaum Co. project, from executive producers Mitchel Katlin and Nat Bernstein ("Abby"). CODEBREAKERS: THE WEST POINT SCANDAL (ESPN) - ESPN's telefilm about the 1951 Army football team cribbing scandal now features the title "Codebreakers." The project, current in the early development stage, is based on a Sports Illustrated article by Frank DeFord. DEARLY DEPARTED (A&E) - The cable channel will premiere the new reality series, about three sisters who run a funeral home, on Monday, April 19. KEEN EDDIE (Bravo) - The cable channel will move its off-network run of the short-lived FOX series to Wednesdays at 10:00/9:00c beginning March 10. Before then, viewers can catch another previously unaired episode of the series ("Citizen Cecil") on Tuesday, March 2 at 9:00/8:00c. An additional previously unseen installment ("Who Wants to Be in a Club That Would Have Me as a Member?") has also been scheduled for after the move: Wednesday, March 24 at 10:00/9:00c.