Sunday, June 05, 2005

It's public art; but what IS it?

Art in Multnomah County
In 1980 Multnomah County adopted an ordinance requiring that one percent of construction costs for major capital improvement projects be set aside for public art. In 1985 costs for administration and public education (.33%) were added. Currently, .95% pays for artwork, .05% for maintenance, and .33% for administration and public education.

This is seperate from the state's 1% for art program. And yes, this is the county with not enough money to lock up meth addicts.

Linda Wysong "Artist in Residence"
"The world is dynamic and cinematic, we understand where we are both from the abstract map in our heads and the constantly shifting perspectives we encounter. Our movement is both determined by and determines the places we pass through, creating an interconnected symbiotic relationship."
Uh huh.

Take a look at some of the "art" that Linda has been kind enough to spend our tax dollars on:

Point, No point ...........
The title pretty much sums up my opinion...

Road Music
My wife just walked by as I was looking at this one and said "Is that a tire?" I politely informed her that it is public art. But not just any public art. This one involved a "dramatic reading of DEQ reports." Very dramatic. It is proudly located in the Portland Building (municipal office building), Portland, OR.

Intersection, Artquake
a 3 day performance sculpture in the center of SW Broadway Street,a collaboration with choreographer Linda K. Johnson, phase 5, 24'x24'x24', metal studs & mixed media.This continually changing and evolving sculpture rotated Art at Work construction performances with dance and pedestrian walk throughs.
I can't even justify Multnomah County giving bandwidth on their government website to this piece of junk, let alone actually paying to have it "created" and "choreographed."

3 comments:

Daniel said...

No, no, the rust contributes to the art. It's a metaphor. It signifies deep cultural... oh who am I kidding. It's all crap.

Daniel said...

That sounds like a great idea to me. But then how would public official's out-of-work cousins make their money selling the state rusty pieces of metal by calling it "art?"

Daniel said...

In my make believe world kids not only don't smell like fart, they actually listen the first time, don't stick their fingers in their mouths, and maybe, just maybe, they don't destroy every piece of furniture I own...