Produce an Assembly Line | Bob Snead | The Art Assignment

TL;DR

Executive Director Bob Snead showcases his unique approach to art by turning discarded cardboard into everyday objects found in dollar stores and challenges viewers to create their own assembly line artwork using found materials.

Transcript

Today we're in the St. Claude Arts District of New Orleans, inside of Press Street, an organization that promotes art and literature in the community. We're going to be meeting with Bob Snead, the Executive Director of Press Street and an artist independent of that. He's originally from South Carolina, and traveled all over the country in a vegetab... Read More

Key Insights

• ❓ Bob Snead's artwork focuses on transforming discarded materials into familiar objects, highlighting the excess of consumer culture.
• 🥰 The assignment given to viewers encourages collaboration and the exploration of different ways of creating art.
• 🧑‍🎨 The historical precedent of artists using assistants or workshops challenges the notion of a lone artist creating every aspect of their work.
• 🫥 Assembly line production allows for increased production and the exploration of different materials and techniques.
• 🥰 This assignment provides an opportunity to gain a new perspective on how everyday objects are made and to connect with friends through the art-making process.
• 📏 Snead's process involves creating clear templates and establishing specific rules for production to ensure consistency and quality.
• 🤔 The challenge of transforming everyday objects into cardboard representations requires creative thinking and problem-solving skills.

Questions & Answers

Q: What inspired Bob Snead to start creating art with discarded cardboard from dollar stores?

Snead's inspiration came from a project in which he needed cardboard, and he realized how much corporate dollar store trash was branded with logos and relevant text, leading him to create objects from these discarded materials.

Q: How does Bob Snead involve others in the creation of his artwork?

Snead often works with former students and other individuals to help him produce his projects, especially when facing tight deadlines, as seen in his latest store installation.

Q: What is the assignment given to viewers in this video?

Viewers are challenged to create an assembly line with friends, using any material they find, and document the process through photos and videos shared online.

Q: Why is the idea of artists hiring others to create their work controversial?

Some people value originality and believe that artists should be directly involved in every aspect of their creations. However, hiring assistants has a long historical precedent in art, dating back to the Middle Ages.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Bob Snead is the Executive Director of Press Street, an organization promoting art and literature in the community.

• Snead creates art by transforming discarded cardboard into everyday objects and materials typically found in dollar stores.

• Viewers are challenged to create their own assembly line artwork using found materials and document the process online.