Big Catch is a sculpture filled with chaotic forms, joyous colors and elaborate textures. Artist Judy Onofrio is attracted to items that are colorful and reflective and uses these to give her work a jeweled effect. A closer look reveals that the "jewels" are actually common cast-off materials: bottle caps, beads, shells, mirror pieces, broken china, pop top tabs and marbles assembled to completely cover the form. She uses other surprising kitsch objects like a flower paperweight, Abraham Lincoln and Paul Bunyan figurines and a decorative thermometer imbedded into the surface.

Beneath the elaborate surface of Big Catch is a twisting composition suggesting the dynamic movement of wrestling forms. From the top of the sculpture a large serpent displays pointed teeth and a long pink tongue. A smaller shiny snake encircles it. Several perched birds surround the form and are balanced by a cluster of tropical-looking flowers. These elements and the extravagant surface may be seen as a reference to the biblical Garden of Eden, implying attraction and seduction.

Onofrio confesses to being a compulsive collector, visiting junk shops and garage sales, and keeping her eyes open for interesting cast-off kitsch that she can reuse in her creative constructions. She has been influenced by the fantastic and expressive environments created by self-taught artists such as Rodia's Watts Tower in Los Angeles, California and the Dickeyville Grotto in Wisconsin. On the grounds of her Rochester, Minnesota home and studio, Judy Onofrio's creations crept outdoors, filling her garden and turning into the never finished artwork now called Judyland.

Click here for an application for the Judy Onofrio Curriculum Development Project focused on the assemblage work The Big Catch at The Weisman Art Museum. Sponsored by the Perpich Center for Arts Education, Bemidji State University and ArtsNet Minnesota.

The Onofrio Curriculum Project will provide fiduciary incentives and release time for three Minnesota art teachers (rural teachers encouraged to apply) to meet Judy Onofrio, visit her studio, visit the Weisman art museum, and write and pilot a unit for publication on ArtsNet. This project will follow the model already so successful with Ernest Whiteman. The Whiteman Curriculum Development Project was identified as the "high point in my career" by all three teachers, professor and artist. We aim for the same goal.

Timeline:

June 2001: Meet with the artist

Summer 2001: Write the unit.

Fall 2002: Pilot the unit

Spring 2002: Publish the unit.

Grant Includes:

• Stipend for curriculum materials
• Release time and travel to meet with the artist in her studio and as a group
• Training on web curricular development
• A line item on your resume - published curriculum writer for the Weisman Art Museum
• A letter of commendation addressed to your administrators from the Walker Art Center
  

Your Responsibilities:

• Meet with the artist in her studio.
• Write unit plan with ArtsNetMinnesota Coordinator.
• Pilot the unit in the Fall of 2001. Document the project throughout with pictures and journals.
• Meet with Weisman Educator assistant and ArtsNet Coordinator to edit unit.