I am currently working on a series of sculptures based on Vincent Van Gogh's Sunflower Paintings. Each sculpture consists of a painting, which measures 7 metres x 10 metres, which rests on a 25 metre (17,000 kilogram) steel easel. The first easel has been completed and was erected in Altona, Canada on October 17, 1998. The second easel was finished and erected on November 8, 1999 in Emerald, Australia. The third easel was successfully presented to The State of Kansas, USA and construction will begin in the spring of 2000. Discussions are currently underway in South Africa, Argentina, Japan and France for future sites.

My overall concept for this project includes reproducing all seven of Vincent Van Gogh's Sunflower Paintings in seven countries around the world. Vincent Van Gogh painted seven different but similar Sunflower paintings between the years 1888-1889. The symbolic reference of Van Gogh's Sunflower paintings is very strong. I believe Vincent Van Gogh saw the Sunflower as a representation of life and hope. The series of seven large easels reflect my own interest in appropriation and reproduction in contemporary art.

The seven sites I have selected are based on areas that a.) have a connection to sunflower agriculture or b.) have some connection to Van Gogh himself - hence Japan where one of the seven original Sunflower Paintings was destroyed during World War II.. The sites will range from rural to urban with population ranging from several thousand to several million.

The idea of taking a very traditional symbol of art - the 19th century still life on an easel- and enlarging it to an enormous proportion, interests me greatly. The traditional 'Painting on an easel' is now a contemporary work of art. By placing virtually the same sculpture in seven countries, with distinct cultures, I am curious as to how these sculptures will be interpreted. The Canadian and Australian will certainly view the work differently than The South African or The Argentinean! Will the sculpture be perceived for its reference to the sunflower, Van Gogh or art in general?

This easel project was started in the spring of 1997 and we hope to have the final easel standing by the year 2002.

Cameron Cross