{{Short description|Street art}} {{Infobox artwork | image_file = File:Red Ball on Elm Street.jpg | image_size = 150px | title = RedBall Project | caption = RedBall in Toronto, Canada in 2009 | artist = Kurt Perschke | year = | type = 15 feet in diameter (4.5 meters), {{Convert|269|lbs|kg}} inflated or {{Convert|250|lbs|kg}} deflated | city = | museum = }} '''RedBall Project''' is a public travelling street art piece by US-born artist Kurt Perschke.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Mark |date=2014-11-20 |title=RedBall Project artist accuses Shell of appropriating his idea |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2014/nov/20/red-ball-project-artist-shell-adverts |access-date=2023-12-18 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Burke |first=Siobhan |date=2013-11-08 |title=Shady Paths on Which a Butterfly Flutters |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/09/arts/dance/dark-lark-by-kate-weare-at-bams-fishman-space.html |access-date=2023-12-18 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Public Art: A World's Eye View |year=2007 |publisher=ICO Norio Mochizuki |isbn=9784931154322 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_yhqbK1CClEC&q=Kurt+Perschke&pg=PA293}}</ref> Considered “the world's longest-running street art work"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Quartier des spectacles {{!}} REDBALL MONTRÉAL |url=https://www.quartierdesspectacles.com/en/activity/2104/redball-montreal |access-date=2023-12-18 |website=www.quartierdesspectacles.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work=Scoop It |title=Les escales improbables de Montréal » RedBall Montréal / Mobile sculptural installation at Berson Momuments |url=http://www.scoop.it/t/art-urbain-2-0}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher=Corbis |title=New York artist Kurt Penshke's RedBall comes to Montreal |url=http://www.corbisimages.com/stock-photo/rights-managed/42-61801498/new-york-artist-kurt-pershkes-redball-comes}}</ref> the project consists of a 15 ft inflated red ball wedged in different city spaces in various cities around the world.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2012-06-21 |title=Giant red ball in Weymouth streets for Cultural Olympiad |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-dorset-18531594 |access-date=2023-12-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher=CBC News |title=Montreal's having a ball with Kurt Perschke's creation |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/montreal-s-having-a-ball-with-kurt-perschke-s-creation-1.2753089}}</ref> Placed in a choreographed suite of installations within a city and usually lasting one or two weeks, each specific site lasts only one day.<ref>{{cite web|work=Daily News |title=Giant red ball breaks free from art installation, rolls down Ohio street striking cars in wild ride |date=22 August 2015 |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/theater-arts/giant-art-ball-breaks-free-rolls-ohio-street-article-1.2334001}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite web|work=The Telegraph |title=Kurt Perschke's RedBall Project: giant red balls are about to invade Britain |date=28 February 2012 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturepicturegalleries/9111065/Kurt-Perschkes-RedBall-Project-giant-red-balls-are-about-to-invade-Britain.html?image=2}}</ref> RedBall Project has received strong international media and public attention,<ref>{{cite web|publisher=ABC News |title=Toledo: A Giant Red Ball Got Loose and Started Rolling Through Ohio City |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/giant-250-pound-red-ball-art-installation-knocked/story?id=33230712}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work=My Modern Met |title=Interactive Giant Red Ball |date=29 December 2011 |url=http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/interactive-giant-red-ball}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> and has been featured in several urban art books, art journals,<ref>{{cite web|work=Design Journal |title=Balle géante dans le monde entier |date=12 January 2012 |url=http://www.journal-du-design.fr/art/projet-redball-par-kurt-perschke-interview-video-21241/}}</ref> and media.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Time |title=Time Magazine: What Ball? |url=http://redballproject.com/time-magazine-ball/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-08-25 |title=La course folle d'un ballon géant dans une ville américaine |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/culture/2015/08/25/03004-20150825ARTFIG00177-la-course-folle-d-un-ballon-geant-dans-une-ville-americaine.php |access-date=2023-12-18 |website=Le Figaro |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Whyte |first=Murray |date=2009-06-06 |title=Artist puts the ball in our court at Luminato |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/artist-puts-the-ball-in-our-court-at-luminato/article_d97b2c31-462f-57c2-96e3-37c91bba33cc.html |access-date=2023-12-18 |website=Toronto Star |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |work=Hugh Magazine |title=The Red Ball Project |url=http://www.huhmagazine.co.uk/3333/the-red-ball-project |access-date=2016-04-23 |archive-date=2018-05-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180505134927/http://www.huhmagazine.co.uk/3333/the-red-ball-project |url-status=usurped }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work=Vogue Italia |title=Red Ball Project |date=7 May 2013 |url=http://www.vogue.it/uomo-vogue/news/2013/05/redball-project}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work=Isabela Hughes |title=Public Art in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi: Kurt Perschke's Red Ball Project |url=http://www.contemporarypractices.net/artistessay/PublicArt.compressed.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work=Lieux Publics |title=Red Ball Project |url=http://www.lieuxpublics.com/fr/actes-artistiques/367/redball-project}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=Sortir a Paris |title=Le RedBall Project de Kurt Perschke débarque à Paris |url=http://www.sortiraparis.com/arts-culture/exposition/articles/61567-le-redball-project-de-kurt-perschke-debarque-a-paris}}</ref>{{Excessive citations inline|date=May 2025}}
==Kurt Perschke== RedBall was created in 2001 by contemporary artist Kurt Perschke.<ref>{{cite web|work=The Huffington Post |title=Giant Red Ball Rolls Down Toledo Streets |date=21 August 2015 |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/red-ball-project-toledo_us_55d713dae4b00d8137eddeee}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work=The Rising Hollywood |title=The RedBall Project by Kurt Perschke |date=11 November 2023 |url=http://www.therisinghollywood.com/2012/03/21/the-red-ball-project-by-kurt-perschke/}}</ref> Perschke is best known for his works in sculpture, video, collage, set design and public space.<ref>{{cite web|work=Be Street |title=Kurt Perschke – RedBall Project (Paris)|url=http://www.be-street.com/kurt-perschke-%E2%80%93-redball-project-paris/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=The New York Times |title=When Artists Discover Craft-Oriented Kitsch |date=21 August 2005 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/21/nyregion/art-review-when-artists-discover-craftoriented-kitsch.html |last1=Genocchio |first1=Benjamin }}</ref> Other prominent works by Perschke include commissions for various institutions including The Contemporary Art Museum in St. Louis, Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art, and Technisches Museum Wien.<ref>{{cite web|work=Artist Career Guide |title=Reality Check with Kurt Penschke |url=http://artistcareerguide.com/interviews/reality-check-interview-with-kurt-perschke}}</ref> His set designs for Kate Weare Dance Company have also received critical accolades in The New York Times.<ref>{{cite news|work=The New York Times |title=In Berkshires Dance Oasis, Fresh Talents Still Bloom |date=13 August 2008 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/14/arts/dance/14pill.html |last1=Dunning |first1=Jennifer }}</ref> Born in Chicago, Perschke currently lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.<ref>{{cite web|work=Broadway World |title=Conversations with Artists - Kurt Perschke of the Redball Project |url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwart/article/BWW-Interviews-Conversations-with-Artists-Kurt-Perschke-of-the-Redball-Project-20140501#}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work=The Huffington Post |title=Kurt Perschke's RedBall Project Takes Giant Ball On World Tour |date=24 May 2012 |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/05/24/kurt-perschke-redball-project-_n_1541833.html}}</ref>
==Design== The RedBall is 15 feet in diameter (4.5 meters) and weighs 269 pounds (122 kg) inflated or 250 pounds (110 kg) deflated.
==Exhibitions== [[File:RedBall_Project_Portland.jpg |thumb|The sculpture in a Portland Transit Mall shelter in 2007]] [[File:RedBall Project London.jpg|thumb|The sculpture wedged in London's Hungerford Bridge and Golden Jubilee Bridges]] [[File:RedBall Project, Fargo Theatre in Fargo North Dakota.jpg|thumb|The sculpture in the snow under the Fargo Theatre marquee]] {| class="wikitable" ! Year ! City, country ! Location |- | 2001 | St. Louis, US |- | 2002 | Barcelona, Spain | El Bruc, Roman Wall, Jaume I, Barceloneta Beach, MACBA by Richard Meier, Barcelona Culture Studio |- | 2003 | Sydney, Australia | Harbour Bridge, Railway Square, Woolloomooloo Wharf, Market Street, Pit & Martin Place, Aurora Place, AMP Center, 28 Margaret, State Theatre, Phillip Street Industrial Court Building, Australia Square, MLC Center, Town Hall, Circular Quay |- | 2005 | Portland, US | Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland City Hall, 5th Avenue Bus Stop, M.S. Glass, Weiden + Kennedy, Portland World Trade Center 2, Pioneer Square |- | 2007 | Chicago, US | Millennium Park, Spertus Institute, Wishbone Restaurant, Field Museum, Grant Park Grant Park, Seventeenth Church, LaSalle Bridge, Wicker Park – Damen Stop, Union Station/Jackson Bridge Hyde Park Art Center, IIT by Rem Koolhaas, Chess Pavilion, 19 S LaSalle, Calder’s ‘Flamingo’/Federal Plaza, Chicago Cultural Center |- | 2008 | Scottsdale, US | Trolley Bridge, McDowell Mountain Ranch Skate Park, Arabian Library, Bell Tower at Scottsdale Center for Performing Arts, Pinnacle Peak Park, Granite Reef, Loloma Station, Bentley Gallery |- | 2008 | Grand Rapids, Michigan, US | Gerald R. Ford Museum, UICA Opening Night, Rosa Parks Circle, GRCC Fieldhouse, The BOB, Grand Rapids Ballet |- | 2008 | Toronto, Canada | Nathan Phillips Square, Old City Hall, First Canadian Place, Elm St. Alley, Ryerson University, Queen Street W. Alley, Harbourfront Centre |- | 2009 | Taipei, Taiwan | Chiang Kai-shek Memorial National Theater, Taipei Cinema Park, Exhibition SiteBo Pi Liao Street, Shin Kong Mall, Taipei MOCA |- | 2010 | Norwich, England | Norwich Railway Station, Novi Sad Friendship Bridge, York Alley, All Saints Green, Pull’s Ferry, St. Andrews Lych Gate, Fire Station, Chapelfield North, St. Peter Mancroft Church, Sainsbury Center for Visual Art, Norwich Castle, St. Gregory’s Alley, Norwich Cathedral |- | 2011 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Abu Dhabi Art, Corniche East, Qaryat Al Beri, Al Jahili FortAl Ain Palace Museum, Madinat Zayed, Qasr Al Sarab, Park, Emirates Palace, Corniche West, Zayed Stadium |- | 2012 | Perth, Australia | Cottesloe Beach, Subiaco Arts Centre, Fremantle Town Hall, Perth Train Station Overpass, Perth Convention Centre, Perth Train Station/Wellington Bus Station, Albany Town Hall, Albany Western Australian Museum, Downtown Albany Rotunda, State Theatre Centre of WA, UWA Library, Sail and Anchor Pub (Fremantle), UWA Writers Festival, YMCA Victoria Street, Council House, The Bakery, QV1 Fountain, Festival Gardens |- | 2012 | England | Paddington Beach, Brixham, Torquay Harbour, Torbay (Spanish Barn), Plymouth (Queen's Arms), Plymouth (White Lane), Plymouth Hoe, Exeter High St, Exeter Almshouse, Exeter River Quayside, Weymouth cider bar, Weymouth, Town Bridge, Weymouth, Esplanade, Weymouth, Portland Cove House Inn, London Golden Jubilee Bridge, Waterloo Bridge in London, Covent Garden in London, Millennium Bridge in London |- | 2012 | Leuven, Belgium | Rector de Somer Square, Martelaren Square, Mechelse Street, Kieken Street, Brussels Street, University Library, City Park |- | 2013 | California, US | Los Angeles Theatre, Edgemar Building, Security Pacific Building, Pershing Square, Four Embarcadero Center, Contemporary Jewish Museum, Bentley Reserve, BART Embarcadero Station, CA Lottery HQ |- | 2013 | Paris, France | Cafe Beaubourg, Hotel de Ville, Seine River Cruise, Passerelle Simone de Beauvoir, Canal St. Martin, Place du Commerce, Jardin du Luxembourg |- | 2013 | Lausanne, Switzerland | Bel-Air et Rue de Genève, EPFL – Learning center, Place Chauderon, Eglise St-François, Ouchy (Place de la Navigation), Place de l’Europe, Palais de Rumine |- | 2014 | Rennes, France | Opéra, Dames, Republic, Pont levis, Porte mordelaise, Station CDG, Ouest France, Saint George |- | 2014 | Galway, Ireland | Spanish Arch, Druid Lane, Quay Street, Promenade, Meyrick Hotel, Corrib River, Townhall Theatre |- | 2014 | Montreal, Canada | Biosphere, Place des Arts, Quartier des Spectacles, Berson Monuments, Parc Metrom Bank of Montreal, Fontaine Park |- | 2018 | Chapel Hill, North Carolina | |- | 2018 | Fargo, North Dakota, US and Moorhead, Minnesota, US | Plains Art Museum, Minnesota State University Moorhead, Great Northern Bicycle Company, Lindenwood-Gooseberry Park Pedestrian Bridge, Fargo Parks & Rec Office, Rourke Art Gallery + Museum, Fargo Theatre. |- | 2019 | Rouen, France | Gros-Horloge, Palais des Sports, Musée des Beaux-Arts |- |2021 | Cognac, France <ref>{{cite web | url=https://redballproject.com/cities/cognac/ | title=Cognac | RedBall Project | Traveling public art }}</ref> | |- |2021 | Santa Cruz, US <ref>{{cite web | url=https://redballproject.com/cities/santacruz/ | title=Santa Cruz | RedBall Project | Traveling public art }}</ref> | |- |2022 | Liverpool, England <ref>{{cite web | url=https://redballproject.com/cities/liverpool/ | title=City details meta data CMS }}</ref> | |- |2023 | Saskatoon, Canada <ref>{{cite web | url=https://redballproject.com/cities/saskatoon/ | title=RedBall Saskatoon }}</ref> | |- |2024 |Tainan, Taiwan <ref>{{cite web | url=https://redballproject.com/cities/tainan/ | title=Celebrate Tainan 400 }}</ref> |Official Reception Stone Arch, Chúi-sian-keng, Tainan Park Nenji-tei, NCKU, Anping Castle, Tainan Art Museum, The Spring, Xinhua District Council House, Zhuxi Moon -Viewing Bridge, Dainanmen Castle |}
==Lawsuits== In May 2013, Perschke filed a lawsuit against the European conglomerate Edenred, S.A. over the use of RedBall Project’s concept in a promotional campaign. The international law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher took on the cross-border dispute and filed a complaint in Federal court against Edenred.<ref>{{cite web|work=Art News |title=Artist Kurt Perschke Accuses Oil Giant Shell of Stealing His Ideas |date=21 November 2014 |url=https://news.artnet.com/art-world/artist-kurt-perschke-accusses-oil-giant-shell-of-stealing-his-ideas-177646}}</ref> The case was settled out of court. While the precise terms of the resolution remain confidential by mutual agreement, it has been reported as “a legal victory for RedBall Project”.<ref>{{cite web|work=Art Weekenders |title=The RedBall Project in Court |date=12 February 2014 |url=http://blog.artweekenders.com/2014/02/12/redball-project-in-court/}}</ref> Perschke said that he views the resolution as favorable because it was based on terms that respect his intellectual property rights.<ref>{{cite web|work=PaceMonitor |title=Perschke v. Edenred SA et al |url=https://www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/1613543/Perschke_v_Edenred_SA_et_al}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work=PRWeb |title=Street Art in Suit with French Conglomerate |url=https://www.prweb.com/releases/street_art_in_suit_with_french_conglomerate/prweb11548639.htm}}</ref> In 2015, Perschke accused Shell Oil Company to have used his concept of the RedBall project in a global print ad campaign.<ref>{{cite web|work=Art News |title=Artist accuses Shell |date=20 November 2014 |url=http://www.artnews.com/2014/11/20/shell-accused-of-ripping-off-artist-project-in-ads/}}</ref> The accusation on artistic copyright infringement received media attention.<ref>{{cite web|work=Gallereo |title=Kurt Perschke and the Big Red Ball |url=https://www.gallereo.com/blog-kurt-perschke-and-the-big-red-ball-post-1487-55.html}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> The ad campaign was ended, and the case was settled out of court.
==Publications featuring RedBall Project== * "Big Art, Small Art" (Manco, Tristan), Thames & Hudson; 1 edition (October 14, 2014), {{ISBN|978-0500239223}} * "Overs!ze" (Viction:ary), Victionary (May 24, 2013), {{ISBN|978-9881943989}} * “Going Public” (R. Klanten, S. Ehmann, S. Borges, L. Feireiss Release), Gestalten (August 2012), {{ISBN|978-3-89955-440-3}} * "The Red Rubber Ball at Work" (Caroll, Kevin), McGraw Hill (October 1, 2008), {{ISBN|0071599444}} * "The Artist’s Guide" (Battenfield, Jackie), Da Capo Press (June 9, 2009), {{ISBN|978-0306816529}} * "Creaticity" (Poch Poch), Gustavo Gili (2010), {{ISBN|8494115413}}
==Awards== * National Recognition to the Best in Public Art Projects Annually, Public Art Network, Americans for the Arts (2006).<ref>{{cite web|work=American For The Arts |title=RedBall Project |date=15 May 2019 |url=http://www.americansforthearts.org/by-program/networks-and-councils/public-art-network/public-art-year-in-review-database/redball-project-portland}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== * http://redballproject.com/
{{DEFAULTSORT:RedBall Project}} Category:Street art Category:Public art Category:Balls