Tribute to Muhammed Ali is “Size Appropriate”

John Sedlar

artwork by American artist / sculptor Michael Kalish

By Ashley Avis

Two story sculptural work 'reALIze' by Michael Kalish to start tour in Downtown LA.

On March 25, 2011, LALive! will debut one (seriously flabbergasting) piece of artwork by American artist / sculptor Michael Kalish.  BunkerHill was recently invited to chat with the artist about his three-year behemoth of a project -- a literal two story tribute to Muhammad Ali, that will be displayed in downtown Los Angeles for a handful of weeks this coming spring.

reALIze is a size-appropriate laudation to the renowned boxer, and is equal parts art as it is analytical precision. Let me explain.

The sculpture that will soon debut at the Nokia Plaza consists of over five miles (yes... miles) of stainless steel, two miles of wire, and 1300 speed bags.  When viewed... at nearly any angle... the gigantic structure appears as though some UFC-happy street artist on fourteen cans of ‘sugar-version’ Redbull robbed a boxing club and went to town. 

But.  Then you step away... and about thirty feet back, you suddenly see it... the pensive, stoic, ring-ready face of Ali -- formed perfectly by a flock of dangling speed bags.  He hangs there, suspended, uniquely immortalized by the surroundings of his sport, his art, in brilliant 2D wire-bound technicolor.

The piece itself was originally commissioned by Ali’s wife Lonnie to pay tribute to her husband’s career, and to allow fresh generations a glimpse into the ‘life and legacy’ of a champ.  And at two stories tall, the sculpture is far more than a glimpse.  Kalish -- an artist best known for his celebrity portraits constructed of vintage license plates, and large format sculptural roses -- collaborated with the Oyler Wu Collective to engineer the installation.

But... how in the world did Kalish go from roses and license plates to a several story steel colossus?

“The idea for this actually came while I was sleeping,” Kalish explains.  After being approached by Lonnie Ali, Kalish had thought that his tribute would eventually result as some kind of a statue.  Something simpler, something less -- massive?

“Once I decided I was going to do it -- [the project] took about three years, from start to finish,” he expressed, pausing intermittently to direct assistants in their hanging of four ‘barndoor roses’ in his Culver City studio.  They stepped lightly around massive aluminum pinwheels that littered the floor, the next project.  It seems as though Kalish is constantly moving, evolving -- much like the work he outputs.

He motioned behind us at what looked like a tangle of steel.  “... that’s about a third of it there.  When we finally put the whole thing together downtown, it’ll be an 18-hour-a-day job over about 6 days.”
Looking at the sheer size of the thing, the question of financing came into play.  Obviously a multi-year project with this much going on couldn’t run cheap. 

“I underwrote the entire thing,” Kalish expressed, “So I could control the creative, keep it pure.  I mean, in the beginning it was open for possible sponsorship -- but I was afraid it would be dumbed down.  If all of a sudden it gets to be brought to you by Wendy’s, or Yo Pollo Loco, it looses credibility.”

He smiles a bit, humbly, and explained how happy he was to be here -- at this point in his career -- to be able to undertake something as nonpareil as this without outside influence.  Kalish seems to truly care about the overall authenticity of his art, as well as the message and story behind it.

“I mean, who could compete with Muhammad Ali?” he grins,“ the guy was such an athlete, a poet, a politician -- an amazing figure.  I feel lucky to have spent some time with him.  He’s such an incredible icon, an incredible human  being.  So to educate people on who this guy was, aside from the boxer, is so important.”

The uniqueness of this installation will certainly draw attention from various age demographics, as well -- kids who usually shirk away from museums in favor of playing AngryBirds on iPhone for four hours might actually turn an interested eye.  Or at least want to climb it.

Because after all, isn’t art supposed to be for everybody?  This certainly is. 

reALIze on display at LA Live!  March 25th - April 9th, 2011.

 

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