Journalist Mike Creger from Duluth News Tribune contacted Kurt a week and a half ago about our Un Petit Monde project. He interviewed Kurt on the phone about the recent Disney Infinity project as well as his Un Petit Monde artwork as it relates to the North Shore. You can read the article on Duluth Tribune News website here.
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We had a very interesting side project this past Spring/Summer. Kurt applied his photography technique and style to the Disney Infinity figurines. Disney Infinity is a video game that features Disney, Pixar and Marvel characters. After getting Disney's blessing and a box full of figurines including some that haven't been released, Kurt went to work immediately, cutting them from their base and building props. Apology to collectors, Baymax had to get a new foot: Kurt had difficulties getting him off his base and accidentally cut it off! As props go, Buzz Lightyear got himself a space rocket, Mickey is working his magic broom, Wreck-It ralph is pulling the wires at a video arcade, Maleficient is appearing out of a green flame and Mr. Incredible got himself a bucket and cloth and is ready to do some clean up! The result of this project is a series of images featuring Disney Infinity characters shot on location in the real world environment. The scenes were photographed indoor and outdoor in Gooseberry Falls State Park, Two Harbors, Duluth, Minneapolis, St Paul and New York City. Some of the shots were done with the gracious approval from business owners, THANK YOU to Adventure Zone, Amazing Grace Bakery & Cafe and Toys for Keep in Duluth, HiFi Hair & Record, Magers & Quinn Booksellers and The Foundry Home Goods in Minneapolis, Lil'Dog Car and Pet Wash in Two Harbors and Frames Bowling Lounge in New York City. We picked those businesses because they look neat and the people there are nice. Kurt was commissioned to photograph a piece involving miniatures in New York City. He took the opportunity to photograph for our side project featuring larger figurines (more on this in a future post) and for Un Petit Monde, of course.
Although we were short on time, in most cases we walked instead of taking the subway. It allowed Kurt to explore other photographic opportunities for our projects. We're definitely planning to go back to New York sometime in the future to document more Un Petit Monde scenes. Kurt is currently photographing for a project involving miniature figures of a slightly larger scale. Some of the characters require very specific elements in the background. For one of the scenes, he needed a green fire. Kurt found out that Boric Acid and Methanol mixed together and ignited would give out a green flame. The next step was to figure out a way to control the flame so it would burn tall and look natural. Kurt's trick was to mold a piece of foil paper into a thin sleeve with edges so the mixture would not spill yet low profile enough so it couldn't be noticed in the final shot.
Kurt was selected with 4 other artists to participate in a show revolving around miniatures. The show will be at the Prichard Art Gallery (University of Idaho) in Moscow, Idaho from August 22 to September 28, 2014. The other artists exhibiting will be Liliana Porter, Thomas Doyle, Gregory Euclide and Ellen Discroll. We are very humbled to be in the company of such talented and accomplished artists!
We are stationed on the North Shore of Minnesota for the summer. We have been taking advantage of our proximity to Lake Superior to document the miniatures. In June, the lake was so cold that almost everyday we were treated to some type of fog.
Although our stay on the North Shore feels like a vacation, we are working hard to grow our library of photos. By mid-June, Kurt started to complain that his back was aching. I think that laying sideways on the lava flow (irregular rocks) doesn't help his situation. Some terrains are easier on the body than others! Anyway, Kurt is growing our collection of images with real enthusiasm! I have been documenting Kurt in his process and plan on making a short documentary about him and his work. The University of Minnesota Alumni Association used Kurt's photography to accompany their cover story on Climate Change. Seven researchers from the University of Minnesota lay out their plan to confront and deal with the consequences of climate change. The magazine is exclusively distributed to members of the association but a digital version of it is available on their website. Click here if you would like to read the article.
Un Petit Monde is featured in the Summer issue of German magazine 4-seasons #42. The magazine is for the customers of Globetrotter Ausrüstung (outdoor retailer) and for outdoor enthousiasts in general. It's also available in digital format (English and German) by downloading the free 4-seasons app on iTunes. We're honored to have the work featured next to real summit climbers and adventurers!
Kurt shared his photography technique and our project with the readers of French Magazine Phototech. So, if you happen to be in France, pick up Phototech magazine n°31 (April-May 2014), go to page 82, read up et voilà, you'll be on your way to taking your own photos of minis!
We are currently working on a commission for an article on climate change. We are thrilled that the miniatures are being used to illustrate such an important issue, one that we are very passionate about! Kurt has been creating/transforming most of the props and characters to fit the different scenes. For one of the scenes, we needed access to solar panels. The owner of a solar company agreed to let us climb on the roof of a client's business in downtown St. Augustine.
To get to the roof we had to climb up a rickety ladder for the last few feet. I didn't want to make it a big deal because we were on a mission, but it was my first time climbing a ladder and I was a bit nervous! It was around 2 p.m, hot and sunny. The shot turned out great! |
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