Oil Drum
Art is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit grass roots art movement that
seeks to change human patterns through meaningful artworks. By
using the 55-gallon oil drum as a metaphor for oil artists transform
the drums into provocative artworks that address global issues
about oil such as the environment, global warming, sustainability,
the economy, the energy crisis, our carbon footprint, and the Middle
East conflict.
It also reflects positive aspects of fossil
fuel that has provided economical solutions in the past century
for our needs and comforts.
To accomplish its
international goal Oil Drum Art uses art exhibitions as a means
of presenting artist’s commentaries to the public. The exhibitions
provide a forum for meaningful dialogues between art and society
and perhaps make a difference.
Jack Lardis
President & Founder
OIL DRUM ART MISSION
Oil Drum Art promotes artwork that advocates
reduced petroleum consumption for a more livable planet.
THE CORE
PRINCIPLE OF OIL DRUM ART
Oil Drum Art is a call to
the artists in American communities and perhaps in the world
to define modern human civilization using a powerful symbol as
a common medium.
Ancient civilizations are
known more for their art than for their politics. The Oil Drum Art project
is an invitation to bring art into direct contact with our civilization
so as to inform it, perhaps for posterity.
The possessing
or controlling of oil has been a defining policy objective of the
20th Century community of nations. The oil drum contains the essential
energy of our world, without which our modern civilization could
not exist. The drum container in its vast simplicity as a symbol
common to all men, evokes every one of the forces, greed, hope, peace
and havoc that have influenced mankind for a century or more.
The oil drum when used as
a means of expression will remind the world that art has a place, not just
in museums, but wherever it may be seen and pondered, and not just as
art, but as philosophy whose power will rise from the making of art from
a common symbol that is large enough to embrace it.
THE FIVE STAGES OF OIL DRUM ART
1. Grass Roots
Oil Drum Art (ODA) was launched
in New Haven, Connecticut in 2003 and its grass roots spread
throughout the state and into New York City. In six years
there have been 23 ODA exhibitions and over 48,000 viewers of all
ages and socio-economic backgrounds.
2. National Exhibitions
Oil Drum Art will spread
its grass roots nationally by presenting invitational exhibitions
in collaboration with major art galleries and art associations
that are interested in making a change through art about issues confronting
society.
3. International
Installations
The Internet will provide
opportunities to expand ODA internationally with juried on-line
exhibitions and an installation competition that will produce
winners who will be subsidized to construct their artwork in either
their country or the United States.
4. International Exhibition
Art Associations
and Cultural Ministries worldwide will be invited to curate
a juried exhibition in their country and then send two selected
artworks -- one environmental and the other geopolitical -- to America
for the first uncensored International Oil Drum Art Exhibition.
5. International
Tour
Museums and
galleries worldwide will be offered a touring exhibition of selected artworks
from the first international ODA exhibition. This will complete the
first ODA cycle that will be repeated every three years.
TAKE
A LOOK AT THE OIL DRUM ART BROCHURE Click on
Oil Drum Art Flipbook to view a page-by-page account of who we are, where
we have come from and where we are going.
Place the cursor at the bottom right corner of every page and click
on it: the page will "flip" to the next one. Enjoy!
Oil Drum
Art is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit grass roots art movement that
seeks to change human patterns through meaningful artworks. By
using the 55-gallon oil drum as a metaphor for oil artists transform
the drums into provocative artworks that address global issues
about oil such as the environment, global warming, sustainability,
the economy, the energy crisis, our carbon footprint, and the Middle
East conflict.
Oil Drum Art promotes artwork that advocates
reduced petroleum consumption for a more livable planet.