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The
Artist Toils |
Kaufman
immediately set out to push himself and his new art to the next
level – creating the giant work entitled, "Caesars
35th Year History." Looking at the 400-foot x 15-foot wall
in Caesars Palace Casino, where his Museum Art piece would be
hung, Kaufman knew his work would bring Caesars history and future
together. But this new work would only succeed if the painting
forced the observers to participate. By seeking to draw viewers
into the painting itself, he chose common objects and made them
very special. For example, Kaufman used 80 pairs of real boxing
gloves, with one of each of the 160 world title fights painted
on each glove. Next, the world title championship boxers who won
the fights, adding both history and flash and blood to the painting
would actually sign the gloves. To add even more life, a real
24-foot x 24-foot boxing canvas that Tommy "Hit Man"
Hearns and "Sugar" Ray Leonard fought on would be painted
with scenes of their boxing rounds – and signed by both
boxers –bringing the viewer, the subject and the event into
one place and time. This new Museum Art piece was evolving into
more than a multi-media mural – it would be a new Pop Art
experience!
Next, to expand the new style, Kaufman painted 6 real heavy bags,
hung from the ceiling, and 11 speed bags depicting Pop Art friezes
of the world title fights held at Caesars, in an art-telling-a-story
series. Next, he added 6 motorcycle helmets painted to look like
Evel & Robbie Knievel helmets, further mixing 3D art and painting.
With very experiment, Kaufman pushed the envelope of subject,
medium, and other elements, to create a one-of-a-kind experience
that leaps off the walls of Caesars Palace into the imagination
of the viewer.
Like other classic artist before him (Picasso, Van Gogh, etc.),
Kaufman will unveil to the world a new living art form. Gaining
the attention of the contemporary world, he wil prove his place
as a mirror of his time.
Kaufman Does It His
Way. "Steve Kaufman, a Pop Art master, is often quoted,
debated, questioned, praised, and, yes, sometimes ridiculed
for his bold views. But one thing remains clear, his drive to
create art "His Way" is unwavering.Kaufman
says, "I have no other choice but to create. I always push
myself to the next level. There are over 300 different colors
of red, and there are a million ways to see the red apple in
the painting, Art is about creating the different choices."
Like a true artist,
Kaufman challenges that which is the essence of art. Kaufman
has stated, "A painting doesn't have to be on canvas to
be an original. It just seems that a lot of art is being created
just on canvas, but it doesn't seem to be original." Kaufman
continues to take risks, blending different styles, mediums
and images to continue reinventing Pop Art. Kaufman has always
said,"Why ever stay the same?" Steve Kaufman's Museum
Art piece, entitled, "Caesars 35 Year History," will
join his other Caesars work, the September 11-th Memorial."
Kaufman’s goal is to leave an indelible mark on Caesars
Palace and our times.
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