Jim Bachor
Jim Bachor | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1964 |
| Nationality | American |
| Organization | Bachor |
Jim Bachor(bornc. 1964)[1]is a graphic designer, street andmosaicartist. He is known for his contemporary mosaics produced using ancient techniques. More recently, Bachor has become well known for the mosaic art that he has installed inpotholeson the streets of Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Detroit, San Antonio, Nashville, Los Angeles, Carrara, Italy, andJyväskylä,Finland.[1][2][3]
Early life and education[edit]
Raised in suburban Detroit, Bachor pursued a pre-engineering program for two years after high school at Michigan State University. He ultimately transferred to theCenter for Creative Studiesin downtown Detroit and graduated with a BFA in Graphic Design.[3]In the late 1990s, Bachor traveled toRavenna,Italy, to study the ancient art of the mosaic.[3]
Career[edit]
He worked as an associate creative director atChicagoad agencyFoote, Cone & Belding.[citation needed]
After a visit toPompeii,Italy, he found mosaics that survived an ancient volcano and in 2013 he decided to begin filling potholes in Chicago with mosaics, with images such as a popsicle, flowers, and the message that it's "not a pothole anymore."[4][5]
In the summer of 2014, Bachor completed "thrive," a 700-square-foot commission for theChicago Transit Authoritythat was installed in the city's Thorndale Red Line "L" station.[6]In the fall, Bachor was commissioned to create an in-store 4 by 6 feet (1.2 by 1.8 m) floor mosaic at Nike's flagship store on North Michigan Avenue in Chicago.[7][8]
In 2016, he installed several mosaics in Philadelphia, in collaboration with HAHA Magazine x Paradigm Gallery. One was entitled "Make Your Mark."[1]The same year, he installed a mosaic in front of theSpirit of Detroitstatue on Woodward Avenue in Detroit, Michigan.[3]
In May 2017, he made his first political statement with a pothole mosaic in which the word "LIAR" was placed over an image of the Russian flag. It was installed on Wabash Avenue nearTrump Tower in downtown Chicago.It was first made when Trump was sworn into office and was installed during the period when it became known thatTrump held a White House meeting with Russian diplomatswhere he disclosed highly classified information.[5]
References[edit]
- ^abcSamantha Melamed (August 31, 2016)."One answer to Philly's pothole problem: Fill them with art".philly.RetrievedJuly 13,2017.
- ^Fallon, Claire (May 25, 2015)."Artist Jim Bachor Fixes Chicago Potholes With Ice Cream Mosaics".The Huffington Post.RetrievedSeptember 24,2015.
- ^abcdColleen Kowalewski (May 20, 2016)."Chicago street artist turns Detroit pothole into a work of art".Metro Times.RetrievedJuly 13,2017.
- ^"Pothole mosaics: Street art that fills a need".CBS News.February 19, 2017.RetrievedJuly 13,2017.
- ^abLeonor Vivanco (May 17, 2017)."Pothole artist targets president with new piece near Trump Tower".Chicago Tribune.RetrievedJuly 13,2017.
- ^Benjamin Woodard (October 9, 2014)."Artist Jim Bachor's Mosaic 'Thrive' Installed at Thorndale 'L' Station".dnainfo.Archived fromthe originalon June 1, 2016.RetrievedJuly 13,2017.
- ^Leonor Vivanco (February 29, 2016)."Mosaic pothole artist raises money to hit the road".Chicago Tribune.RetrievedJuly 13,2017.
- ^Pam Grimes; Steve Sanders (April 13, 2015)."Artist will have you smiling at Chicago potholes".RetrievedJuly 13,2017.
Further reading[edit]
- Michael Keating, Government Product News (September 25, 2014)."Gallery: Artworks from Chicago pothole artist Jim Bachor".American City and County.
- Lisa Suhay (October 31, 2014)."How a guerilla artist is transforming Chicago's potholes".Christian Scientist Monitor.
