Corporate Pillars Update Week 4

# of Business Cards Received this Week:  596
Total # of Business Cards Received: 1234
# of Cards in the sculpture: 1007
# of People Represented: 540
# of Cities: 75
# of Completed Levels: 6 (7 & 8 partial)
# of Hours: 23

During Week 4, I became aware of the magnitude of the project I started. I crossed the 1000 card milestone and I realized that I truly only began constructing. With a need of 4000-5000 additional cards, I have to increase the promotion of the sculpture and myself in order to collect the remaining cards.

I must admit that each morning I am excited to come to the studio and check the mail. Seeing a letter for me which may contain a business card or two (or more) has become very fun. I quickly open the letter to see the card design and where it is from. Unfortunately, some don't always have a return address or name so I can't give credit and thanks to the sender. Regardless, it is fun.

I also enjoy the meditative state I achieve when constructing the main levels of the sculpture. There is not much brain power required for these levels, just action. Repetitive action. I get lost in the action, especially early in the morning when the building is quiet and no music is playing (the norm in my studio).

As usual, I am still soliciting business cards. I have to collect 4500 more, give or take. If you have not yet donated or know someone who would be interest in the project, please visit the project description for the full details.

Corporate Pillars Update Week 2

# of Business Cards Received this Week:  573

Total # of Business Cards Received: 614

# of Cards in the sculpture: 427

# of People Represented: 264

# of Cities: 65

# of Completed Levels: 5

# of Construction Hours: 11

The structure began to take shape during Week 2. The support pillars are complete and now I am working on building the first arch. Construction of each floor is taking me longer than I was expecting. I am having difficulties keeping each level square with the level below.

In addition to the construction, I am still looking for business card donors. I estimate that the tower will require 4000 more business cards. Instead of throwing away your old cards or the cards from other you have collected, please consider donating to the project and recycle the business cards.

Please visit the project description for the full details.

Do You Have Extra Business Cards?

I'm starting a new project next week, a combo scuplture and card house. I'm asking your help. I need business cards. All types accepted, current or old. The business cards are a key element to the sculpture.

Please send to

Nolan Studios
c/o Daniel Nolan
2150 S. Canalport Ave
5C-3
Chicago, IL 60608

All donations will be posted on my website documenting my progress.

What Inspires Me?

Recently, I have been getting a similar question over and over, namely, what inspires me?  The idea of inspiration can for some take on a mystical quality and at some level I suppose it does for me as well, especially of when I think of the times when I know I am experiencing inspiration in the moment.  Unfortunately, I'm not aware it occurring often.  The frequency is increasing however, which is definitely a good thing.

A month ago, I was sitting in a Starbucks that I go to in my neighborhood when I feel the need to be around people.  I was sitting in a chair that I have sat countless times over the past 13 years I've lived in the neighborhood.  On the wall hung the typical Starbuck mass produced coffee themed art.  Something caught my eye and I stared.  First, I found it odd that I was staring at a picture I didn't particularly liked and I had seen many times over the years but something was different.  I then noticed that I was studying it intently, the color, forms and shapes, the feeling.  I took a quick picture with my cell phone and went back to my work.  Periodically, I would look back up at it.

I decided that I had to create my version of what I saw when I returned to my studio the next day.

A few weeks later, I was again at the same Starbucks and there was the picture that inspired me.  But it appeared different to me.  The colors and feeling were different compared to the last time I was there.  Thinking I may have lost my mind, I looked at the photo I took and it matched up with what I was seeing, not what I had saw.  That was when I realized that I had a moment of inspiration.  I saw something interesting, something different, than I had seen before.  Since then, I have had that experience a few more times and fortunately I am learning to pay attention to those moments. 

So, when people ask what inspires me, the answer is everything.  I don't know where it will come from or when but it often is something common and often overlooked.  I just get a chance to see it in a different way than before and that seems to be enough to trigger something in me to go with it.

On a side note, the paintings that came from my Starbucks experience do not look like the painting in Starbucks.  They are however some of the best work I have done to date.  Photos will be available shortly.  I'm in the process of having these developed as prints.

"Faces"

"Faces"

30"w x 40"h

Resin on Canvas

Doodle 1

"Doodle 1"

24"w x 18"h

Resin on Canvas

"Whole"

"Whole"

36"w x 36"h

Resin on Canvas

Close up of "Whole"