In the Way Public Library, the belly of a 45 ft by 12 ft humpback whale looms on the side of the wall. When I asked artist Robert Vantivelt about how he decided on the whale as the subject for his new installation, he told me that as a young child, he had ADHD and obsessively doodled whales to help pay attention in class.
“I was that weird, gay boy who was obsessed with whales. Every homework assignment, church pamphlet, checklist, friend’s arm was covered in whales. I wanted the installation to be physically large as a shout-out to my younger self. Usually my pieces are 6ft x 4ft. I wanted to show the haters and the believers that I can do any scale.”
Honoring Humphrey the Humpback: How Art Highlights Migration and Conservation
Robert also wanted to create the whale installation to raise awareness of issues of migration and pay homage to the story of Humphrey the Humpback Whale. In 1985, a humpback whale named Humphrey swam up from the Sacramento River from the Bay and got stuck. Robert was a young boy at the time and remembers people coming together in droves to help this whale.
“It brought people together despite whatever they had going on. People banged on the pipes and Humphrey went into the bay. People made the help happen. It shows that when we have a problem, we can come together to help a sentient being migrate in the most beautiful way.”
The Challenges and Triumphs of a Self-Taught Artist
Being a self-taught artist has been a humbling, yet empowering experience for Robert. With the onslaught of artists with Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, the art world has become even more competitve. It’s important to see self-taught artists in the community to dispel the myth that one has to pay thousands of dollars to be “taught” art and become a successful artist. Robert shared an early anecdote of when he obsessively drew cobras after watching Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and tried to sell his drawings for five cents.
“I went door to door and no one bought any. I’ve been doing this hustle since I was a kid. Things that scare me are things that I get fascinated with. I’ve had to push and market myself.”
From Cardboard Boxes to Public Art: Finding Creativity in Everyday Materials
Fortunately, Robert continued to pursue his art with whatever materials were available to him.
“My mom used to buy me rolls of paper and be like, ‘Here.’ If we got a refrigerator or a washer or dryer, she’d be like, ‘Here’s a box.’ I know most people are like ‘Ugh’ and I was like, ‘Yeah! It rocks!’ Because to me a box could be a submarine. It could be a secret treasure boat. I was always able to transfer things that people take for granted or write off as trash as these magical things.”
Aunt Erma’s Creative Influence: The Power of Community and Craft
He credits his inspiration to his Aunt Erma who held craft fairs in her home and many people from the neighborhood and beyond would show up.
“She was really well known. She showed me what you can do. It was really empowering. That fascinated me. It activated me. I would really put that on Aunt Erma’s shoulders.”
How Art and Education Come Together in Public Spaces
Robert is passionate about community driven projects and using the art experience as a form of education.
“Humphrey the Whale brought everyone together and that’s what I wanted to do with this piece as well. Combining an art experience along with education is a surefire way that you’ll never forget. It’s wonderful working with places like libraries, colleges, etc. because it’s the perfect place to mix art and education.”
The Symbolism of the Whale’s Belly: Vulnerability and Shared Experience
Robert said it was important in his installation to show viewers the most vulnerable part of the whale, its belly. “I want to have an experience. I want to have a shared experience. I want you to feel. I want you to know that I feel. That’s why I love showing at libraries and schools and colleges. What better place to be vulnerable than to be surrounded by books? Robert spoke highly of the collaboration between the Way Public Library and himself, likening it to that of a whale community. “It truly was a communal effort.”
From Sketch Pads to Large-Scale Murals: The Evolution of an Artist’s Vision
The initial iteration of Robert’s whale actually began on guest check pads. “I love that having an idea and following through and nurturing it created this life-size whale from a guest check pad. This project helped me learn how beautiful and amazing an initial thought is given a little effort and 30 days. I find that very inspring.What a tool of manifestation. If we apply that to art, imagine what we could change?”
You can follow Robert’s art process and journeys on Instagram @robertdavidvanitvelt and check out his pet portraiture at @bingowashisname_oh.
