How do artists find funding for performance art and art such as Christo's?

[RainLover]

Hello one and all,

I've had a question for months now that I've been mulling over.

I have a couple ideas for 'installation art' projects... Meaning, art
that will be put into public view in unusual places and temporary in
nature, such as what Christo does with his wrapped builidings and
landscape art.

I'm amazed that Christo finds MILLIONS of dollars to present these art
pieces.

My ideas are on a less-grand scale than Christo's, but I don't have a
clue how to approach financing such a project or even who to go to
about such things.

To make it even more difficult, I'm paranoid about other's stealing my
conceptual ideas so talking about the actual project with other artist
such as all of you is a risk for me. (who of us really know WHO reads
this newsgroup?)

Any suggestions?

Anyone succeed in putting on such a project? How did you do it?

Comments?

Thanks,
James Kelsey, Seattle, Washington, USA, Earth

www.jameskelseystudios.com

[Dan S]

Oh hell, just get a black turtleneck and pants and stand around prestigious
gallery openings bullshitting about formlessness and the ether. Find a
friend of Bill Gates who wants to get involved in a hi-class art project.

Christo sells drawings, posters, used giant umbrellas, whatever, to help.
But wrapping the Reichstag? surrounding the little islands? Rich patrons,
baybee.

Memphis Tigers beat #2 Louisville Cardinals --in Louvl!
Go Tigers go!
Mike Tyson--go get lost.

Dan

[sculpt...@ethanham.com]

My suggestion would do projects that are modest enough that you (and
any collaborators) can afford to finance it yourself. Once you gain
some critical success, then perhaps you could find some financing.

Ethan
http://www.ethanham.com

RainLover <remove-r...@raincity.com> wrote in message news:<rsg75vojgcjgijb7c...@4ax.com>...

[Gary Waller]

"RainLover" <remove-r...@raincity.com> wrote in message
news:rsg75vojgcjgijb7c...@4ax.com...

> Hello one and all,
>
> I've had a question for months now that I've been mulling over.
>

There are two things you might be aware of. 1) Public art is often a
function of 'rezoning' - a developer agrees to fund a public art piece (up
to 1% of project cost), in return for concessions like parking space
density. 2) You have to innovate - how about a fund raising 'lottery' with
"the prize" being the project being built - a lottery always grabs people's
attention - you make the whole thing non-profit, but you pay yourself a fair
market rate for producing and managing the sculpture, a ont ime corporation
and project - until the next one in Portland.