Jason Maracani
New York, NY
Website
Jasonmaracani.com
Social Media
Instagram
How would you describe your work?
I work with artist, Jeremy Barnett, to create large-scale public installation art. We use a repetition of colorful, three-dimensional lines and shapes to activate and reimagine community spaces. Our goal is to make art visible and accessible - anyone can do what we do - and shed a new light on beautiful locations so that viewers experience them in new ways.
What inspires you?
I'm inspired by beautiful locations - all of our work is in response to a space. We'll hike or explore and find a spot that feels right, then go from there.
Can you speak about your process?
Jeremy and I are both initially Theatrical Scenic Designers by trade, and our artistic process generally follows suit - we will sketch an idea, draft and render it, build a scale model - to figure out the initial shape, support structure, and amount of material we need. That said, our time installing a piece on location often becomes more improvisational. We respond and adapt as the piece takes shape, and as we experience it from every viewpoint.
When we don't have an exhibition lined up, we work on our "Sketches" series, where we find a beautiful location and begin building without a plan to see which shapes naturally develop, sometimes in large scale and sometimes in as micro a scale as using toothpicks. These sketches often inspire the more permanent pieces we create.
How did you become interested in art?
I have always enjoyed art, but never formally studied it. Instead, I came into making large scale pieces as a break from my work in the theater - it was an opportunity to build something spontaneously while getting to spend time outside of dark theaters and in beautiful outdoor spots.
Do you have any favorite artists, movies, books, or quotes?
My favorite artists are Andy Goldsworthy, Richard Serra, Henrique Oliveira, and Chiharu Shiota - they've all inspired my work and process.
My favorite movie is The Dark Knight - no matter how many times I see it, I'm always at the edge of my seat.
What advice do you have for younger artists?
Grab whatever you have access to and start making something! Don't worry about having a plan. In fact, challenge yourself to start without having one and see what intuitively happens!
Additional Information for images
1. East Garden Installation at Krasl Art Center, MI (2024, still on view). 250ft. Wood and latex paint.
2. Sketch in Yellow (1), Goldthwait Reservation, MA (2021). The piece was built and rebuilt through the day based on the tides, ranging from 25ft to 100ft. Wood and Latex paint.
3. Spaces for Discovery, Outdoor Discovery Center, MI (2021). 100ft along a walking trail. Part of a Community Art exhibition spanning 4 communities in West Michigan. Wood and latex paint.
4. Playful Spaces, Saugatuck Center for the Arts, MI (2019). 500ft spanning indoors and outdoors. Wood, latex paint, a variety of incandescent and fluorescent lighting. Lighting Control panels were spread throughout the piece, allowing the viewer to use the color temperatures of light to shift the viewing experience.
5. Microsketches, Serra da Lousã, Portugal (2023). Up to 1ft. Toothpicks and spray paint. Part of a photography project featured in our recently published book "Village Sketches: Serra da Lousã, Portugal".
6. Sketch in Yellow (2), Chandler Hovey Park, MA (2022). Each "tree" was between 15-20ft tall, and the forest spanned 4 acres along the coast line. Wood and Latex paint.
7. Spaces for Discovery, Wade's Bayou, MI (2021). 25ft diameter. Part of a Community Art exhibition spanning 4 communities in West Michigan. Wood and latex paint.
8. Microsketches, Serra da Lousã, Portugal (2023). 8in. Toothpicks and spray paint. Part of a photography project featured in our recently published book "Village Sketches: Serra da Lousã, Portugal".
9. Sketch in Blue, Saugatuck Dunes State Park, MI (2019). 30ft. Wood and Latex paint.
10. Spaces for Discovery, Downtown Fennville, MI (2021). 48ft diameter x 16ft tall. Part of a Community Art exhibition spanning 4 communities in West Michigan. Wood, latex paint, plexiglass, 6 streetlamps. Windows painted by students from Fennville Elementary and summer arts camps throughout West Michigan.
11. Spaces for Discovery, Saugatuck Center for the Arts and Coughlin Park, MI (2021). 200ft. Part of a Community Art exhibition spanning 4 communities in West Michigan. Wood, latex paint, plants. Boats built by Saugatuck High School woodshop students and plants included community gardens where viewers could take fresh herbs and vegetables.
12. Spaces for Discovery, Process photo for image 11, Saugatuck Center for the Arts central gallery (2021).
