Mind-Bending Art Project Hits 10-Year Milestone
Can you believe it?
It’s been 3,652 days, 230 artworks, and over 2.8 million line strokes since I began the Grapevine Wall project and this incredible journey on July 29th, 2013.
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to every individual who has stood by me and supported this project throughout its journey. Without your unwavering support, I wouldn’t have reached this point. As we make steady progress with the second half of the Grapevine Wall, it becomes evident how crucial it is for us to foster stronger connections and promote civility. The challenges ahead are significant, and by uniting in love and respect, we enhance our prospects of overcoming them successfully.
For those who are new to this project, a warm welcome awaits you, and here’s a brief overview.
The Project
The Grapevine Wall is a growing, organic illustration that captures our civilization’s 6,000-day journey into 2030, revealing the essence of our collective experience as it unfolds in real-time.
Every month, I unveil two new artworks, called VINES, each one a unique piece of the Grapevine Wall canvas. These VINES link to form a single masterpiece, capturing moments in real-time and showcasing the evolution of our civilization as we navigate through the challenges of the climate crisis, social disruption, and exponential technological advancements.
The canvas of the Grapevine Wall isn’t just one wall; it’s made up of four walls that interconnect to form an infinity cube artwork. The first four chapters of the story are conveyed through the first 320 connected VINES that make up the wall. The final 66 VINES will make up the fifth chapter, which has both a top and a bottom section, representing two different scenarios for humanity’s future. Chapter 5A shows the path we hope to take, while Chapter 5B warns us about the potential consequences of the wrong choices.
- Chapter One —“The Revelation”, July 2013 to Jan 2017
- Chapter Two — “The Awakening”, Feb 2017 to July 2020
- Chapter Three — “The Revolution”, Aug 2020 to Dec. 2023
- Chapter Four —“The Rebuild”, Jan. 2024 to May 2027
- Chapter Five — “The Final Exam”, June 2027 to Jan. 2030
The final two VINES, the last pieces of this grand narrative, will be revealed on January 1, 2030. It’s the “Final Exam” for humanity. Will we rise to the occasion over the next decade, making the right choices, and securing a promising future? Or will we fail to address the urgent issues at hand, leading to a potentially destructive path for our civilization?
These VINES, each one of them, tell a unique part of this grand story I call “The Great Transition.” It signifies the period of evolution our civilization must go through to reach a more enlightened side, where we can rebuild democracy with a fresh perspective.
For number lovers, Here’s a breakdown upon completion:
Duration / Timeline
6,000 Days
July 29, 2013 — January 1, 2030
(16 years, 5 months, 3 days)
Canvas
Infinity Art Cube
386 Artworks (VINES), 5' x 4 each
6 Million Line Strokes *
9,600 square feet (physical)
*Strokes are calculated from the Procreate app on my iPad.
I am aiming to break the world record for the largest drawing by an individual. The current record stands at 6,507 square feet. My ambitions don’t end there. I also have my sights set on breaking the records for the longest-running drawing, most line strokes, and the most intricate Infinity Cube illustration as a solo artist.
Into the Great Transition
The journey so far has been truly awe-inspiring, and with 2348 days remaining until the clock strikes midnight in 2030, the excitement continues. As I keep adding VINES to this magnificent canvas in real-time, I’m filled with eagerness to witness the unfolding of the story and how it touches the hearts of people. It’s a joyous celebration of our collective experiences, and I’m eagerly anticipating the profound impact it will have on others.
The Grapevine Wall project is not just art; it’s a call to action, a mirror reflecting back the consequences of our decisions. It urges us to engage, discuss, and take meaningful steps toward a better world. As we immerse ourselves in this experience, we can’t help but question our role in shaping the future and the impact we have on the planet.
Through this shared journey, I hope to inspire individuals and communities to come together, united in the pursuit of a sustainable and prosperous future.
The Pathway Here
On July 29, 2013, as I headed to Chicago to become a Climate Reality Leader, little did I know that it would mark the beginning of an extraordinary journey. Armed with an iPad and a stylus, I started drawing, capturing my thoughts and emotions through an illustration that grew from a single line stroke.
After a three-day training, I completed the first VINE, depicting a world addicted to fossil fuels and relentless economic growth. From there, I experimented with a flow technique I called grapevining, letting the lines lead me on a creative journey. Four more pieces emerged, and I extended the lines and colors to connect them, naming these artworks “VINES.”
The project took on a life of its own, and co-creation became a central theme. At a charity event, two individuals drew a line that birthed “Yoked,” setting the stage for more collaborations. With each new VINE, a real-time, organic story of humanity’s journey began to take shape.
The turning point came in the fall of 2015 when the project evolved from a single wall into a blueprint for an epic five-chapter story, graphically documenting humanity’s path into the year 2030. The canvas transformed into a 360-degree cube, with each side representing a chapter of the journey.
As Chapter One, “The Revelation,” was completed in 2017, it showcased humanity’s realization of its impact on ecosystems and climate. The following chapter, “The Awakening” (2017–2020), saw a tidal wave of technological advancements and a “new normal” amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
We are now in Chapter Three, titled “The Revolution,” which encompasses the period from August 2020 to December 2023. During this time, we are witnessing multiple revolutions, marked by escalating climate issues, social unrest, and economic turmoil.
There are looming threats of global economic collapse, war, and the rise of fascism, leading to increased anger and distrust. Additionally, we are facing the alarming reality of experiencing the hottest days ever recorded in human history.
The Game
Alongside the Grapevine Wall, I launched a collectible art card puzzle game called “VINES for Humanity” in 2019, designed to help grow human intelligence to tackle future challenges. Augmented reality animations brought new levels of storytelling and gameplay to the project.
The game introduced four archetypes — The Observer, The Connector, The Collaborator, and The Creator — each providing unique insights and abilities to players. On January 2020, Messages from the Future began to offer guidance from the 2050s, helping us rewrite a dystopic future.
Oc3
Having a genetic eye condition, my journey of adapting to new perspectives led to a unique pattern of learning. This pattern enhanced my information retention and revealed profound insights from accumulated knowledge.
Over the first ten years of this project, I refined the Oc3 process, a method that helps me remember important facts and share wisdom effectively. By incorporating AI, I created routines and exercises to maximize cognitive, social, and leadership skills, resulting in the unparalleled effectiveness of the Oc3 program.
Play Along
As the countdown to 2030 continues, the stakes are high. The project emphasizes four steps: raise your Human Intelligence (HI) through Oc3 — observation, connection, creation, and collaboration; leverage the algorithms of the Global Brain to focus on positive perspectives; play the game to earn Human Intelligence Points (HIPs) and challenge the Global Brain; and follow along to stay updated on the unfolding story.
In Closing
The Grapevine Wall highlights the connections we share and the impact of our collective actions. The challenges we face demand that we see things from multiple perspectives and take necessary actions to shape a better civilization.
Reflecting on the past decade, we can recognize the profound changes and challenges we’ve faced. Societies have suffered disrepair, and trust has eroded, leading to a fractured social contract. The rapid rise of extreme ideologies has threatened democracy.
Despite struggles in getting people to face harsh realities, I’ve shifted my focus towards positivity and personal development, essential for navigating the Great Transition.
As we move into this transformative period, I invite everyone to be part of this journey. The Grapevine Wall is a call to action, urging us to rise above the challenges, co-create a better future, and leave a lasting positive impact on our civilization. Let’s come together and rewrite history as we enter the Great Transition.
Craig Tilley, an acclaimed artist with a vision impairment, triumphed over a genetic eye condition that slowly eroded his central vision. Rather than succumbing to limitations, he courageously adopted a fresh outlook on life. The Grapevine Wall, his remarkable art project, became a transformative journey, teaching him to perceive the world from diverse vantage points. Today, he aspires to inspire others with his story of resilience and use his art to encourage them to embrace multiple perspectives in their own lives.
LINKS — https://linktr.ee/grapevinewall
