Tibor in Orbit
Tibor and Maira Kalman
May 23, 2000
Times Square and Milk Cartons
Photos © Ferdinando Scianna, Jeff Mermelstein, and Guenay Ulutuncok 2000
Creative Time and Maira Kalman, in conjunction with The New Museum, presented Tibor in Orbit, a public art project that posthumously honored her husband Tibor Kalman. The project fulfilled Tibor's unrealized dream of creating an "un-advertising" campaign to question social and economic equality. Tibor in Orbit appeared on 1 million Parmalat/Sunndydale non-fat milk cartons in supermarkets in the New York metropolitan area and on the NBC Astrovision by Panasonic video screen in Times Square.
The NBC Astrovision by Panasonic video billboard in Times Square featured four "Tiborisms" every hour at 59 minutes past the hour through June 15. In Times Square's canyon of advertising, filled with quick sound bites, the frozen Tibor in Orbit images were in stark contrast with the surrounding media bonanza. Additionally, M&Co, Kalman's design firm, created milk carton panels that read, "Tibor says-money isn't everything.
Tibor Kalman initially worked with Creative Time on the Everybody installation in Times Square during the 42nd Street Art Project (1993). He was responsible for creating the organization's ‘orange dot’ logo and identity campaign. He was an active board member of Creative Time for many years, sharing his spirit and approach to creativity.
