A giant table and chairs near the Farmer's Market. Made of local limestone. I love this one! When you look closely at the scrolling in the chair legs, you'll find all kinds of critters.
I've had cause to assess my hometown in a new context lately. What this has done is made me appreciate the place even more than before, if that were possible. One of the things I've noticed is the prevalence of public art. We have a lot of it here! I love public art because it's accessible to everyone, regardless of socio-economic standing. It amazes us, provokes us, challenges us, soothes us, enlightens us. It reflects us.
Metal artwork with a background of sheet music
Colorful, whimsical animals
What is your favorite public art?
I think my favorite so far is the King Lear statue on the Magnificent Mile in Chicago, but I have fond memories of the art dubbled "the wishbones" at the University of Arizona in the mid-eighties. I took an improvisational dance class and we had to dance around the art. It made me feel as if I was in the cast of Hair or Godspell!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your photographs!
I love the public art projects done in the past 10 years in various cities. The flying pigs of Cincinnati, the cows of Chicago, the horses of Lexington, the guitars of Cleveland. Each project gave each location a special flare. What would our own town do? Probably fish...maybe bicycles?
ReplyDeleteI think the large limestone sculpture was created by Mike Van Vooren, a local artist, and one of our former neighbors on Kings Road. (A very nice guy to boot.) It's nice that the focus has been on local talent. It's all about community. OUR community.
ReplyDeleteJP - I was at the airport recently and saw another of what I assume is his work. It has that same detailed, scrolling look. Very nice!
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I like the giant spoon and cherry sculpture in Minneapolis at the Walker Museum.
ReplyDeleteThere are quite a few public pieces here in Portland and I was thrilled when they added sculptures of all kinds along the MAX (public trans) line at each stop. There is also a circle drive which I drive often that has a Joan of Arc covered in gold. It just shines when the sun hits it. I think this is my favorite.
ReplyDeleteThe first public art I ever saw was as a teenager on a trip to Chicago with my girlfriends. (We lived in the western suburbs and took the train in.) It was the [untitled] Picasso sculpture at Daley Center. At the time (1967), it was sooooo unique and sooooo controversial! As a teenager growing up in the rural 'burbs living in a house with a cornfield behind it, I felt very empowered just to experience it. I suppose that it why it will always be my favorite. Great blog post and question, Steph!
ReplyDelete