Big Pink is the nickname given to the second tallest building in downtown Portland seen in this photo. The US Bancorp Tower is the second tallest skyscraper in Portland, Oregon. The windows can absorb or reflect light depending upon how much light is upon them, while the surrounding granite may appear darker or lighter than the window pieces depending upon the time of day. The building can be described as being pink, orange, purple, or even gray all in the same day. Pietro Belushi was a consulting architect and chose the windows and granite surface for their reflective properties.
This was my second attempt at portraying this. My first attempt did not have enough detail of the interesting grid that you see from the eastern side of the building. Because Big Pink is the US Bancorp building, I decided to use the money/credit card business in the details of the building. I created a thermofax screen with dollar signs and a Bancorp stock graph which I screened onto pink fabric that I had painted with metallic paints.
For the windows, I found some free clip art of a fake credit card which I changed to hot pink. I printed different sizes of the card on Lutradur that was treated with Golden's digital ground. After the Lutradur dried, I painted the cards with Golden glossy gel medium, to give them a shine.
As you can see from the photo of Big Pink, it dominates the skyline and I wanted to show that in this piece so the other buildings are done very simply in neutral colors. I also decided to make Big Pink go off the edges of the 12 inch square.
I am not thrilled and ecstatic with this piece. It is somewhat of a departure for me. I must admit that when I hung it on the wall to photograph and stood back, I actually saw Big Pink so on some level, it is successful. Attaching all those credit cards was the most difficult task of this piece. I guess it bothers me that they are not perfectly gridded, but it is what it is. Right?
This is a very successful piece, Gerrie! And thanks for working with pink despite your strong anti-pink feelings! You made it work really well -- the grids are so striking, very "you!" And I like that you have Big Pink going off of the edges. Well done!
ReplyDeleteI will never see "Big Pink" the same way again! This is, as Diane said, very you--though I was surprised to see no lime green, that natural pairing with pink! I do love the contrast of the other very solidly, conservative gray buildings with the pink--another natural pairing. And the way Big Pink steps off the boundaries of the edges clearly establishes her dominance, as I think the actual building does over downtown Portland.
ReplyDeleteI think your portrayal of Big Pink is spot on Gerrie! I am intrigued how you created it with the credit card image. I do also like how you have it extending off the edges.
ReplyDeleteWhen you said you were doing a building and a grid, I thought about how un-Gerrie all that structure was. You finished piece reads very Gerrie though and despite teh slight wonkiness you worry about, it reads solidly not just as a building, but as Big Pink. The "financial" patterning and texture is a wonderful detail.
ReplyDeleteIt works very well, Gerrie! As the others have commented, extending the building beyond the edge of the quilt was a wonderful move. The credit card windows are the part that makes me really smile wide - terrific!
ReplyDeleteNice! I really like your idea of decorating the pink building with dollar signs and credit cards.
ReplyDeleteI like, "Big Pink." I didn't read all the descriptions, but skimmed through all the pink work. You 12 by 12 artists are letting us all enjoy your work. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThank you for inviting us to see the work of the '12'... I love pink, and they are a treat to view.
ReplyDeleteI do especially like your 'Big Pink'...as a retired banker, I sense the building might be a bank building?
If it needs a new address??? maybe mine ..smiling
Gerrie, I really like all the symbolism in this piece with the credit card and dollar signs, and the way you had it so off the edges is perfect.
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