1,000,000

Mary Temple, 441,500-443,500 (detail), 2003, 30"x36", pigmented ink on mylar

What does 1,000,000 look like? A favorite artist and good friend, Mary Temple, sought to answer that question with her 1,000,000 Ellipsoids body of work. From her website:

1,000,000 Ellipsoids 2001-2003

The drawing series 1,000,000 Ellipsoids is comprised of a single ellipse-like shape that I drew and counted one million times. The series includes over 400 drawings; each contains thousands of ellipsoids rendered in monochrome ink on vellum, using forms based on simple systems and consecution. The drawings are sequential: each day's work adds to the previous number of ellipsoids in the continuum toward 1,000,000.

This two-year project allowed me to build a structure by drawing the ubiquitous number as if it were an object that could be experienced empirically.

I was reminded of this body of work after discovering Sighn's ITS OK project.

From his website:

NOV2007>>ITSOK. Edition of 1 million.

Every single one is solid wood (no plywood or particle board) and is hand cut by me.
It should take me about 60 years to finish this 'limited' edition.

$20.00 each (currently) and a tree is planted for each one sold. Cool. Get a few. For those times when you really need a reminder that all is OK.

Comments

[Ethan]

In some ways, I find the project most interesting in that the artist is committed to recreating a grammatical mistake 1,000,000 times. (I'm assuming his originally intention was to communicate "It is ok" not "the ok belongs to it").

I imagine he's aware of the typo by now (or perhaps it's an intentional choice)... I wonder what his thoughts are regarding it.

[party like an art star]

thank you for sharing this project! i had to post something on my site about it, because i'm from eugene, oregon and i knew that the sentiment of the piece as well as the fact that a tree is planted for every piece sold was perfect for the tastes of my eco-friendly community. i admire sighn's dedication and patience to undertake such a project!

on a personal note, thanks to paige for keeping up such a great sight. i read your blog often for inspiration and i think you've got a great eye.

[Crinlyacila]

жёшь!