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Ronald Walker

9 Years Ago

Change The Subject

Whatever the subject it needs to be changed to a new one every three entries. Lets start with public art, worthwhile or a waste of money?

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Walter Holland

9 Years Ago

I love public art. Not a waste of money at all, in my opinon.

I live in Columbia SC, where Blue Sky not only created, Tunnel Vision, and Busted Plug, but several other works.

As well, The work Apollo's Cascade sits in the piazza of the museum of art.

Photography Prints

 

Kevin Callahan

9 Years Ago

Ronald, I fully support public art. I live in the Kansas City area and we are well known for our fountains scattered throughout the city. When one lands at our airport you are greeted by various modern sculptures I really enjoy that. As everyone probably realizes few things stir the public like public art. There are always those who would place their personal tastes above all others. Just think of the prime example the Vietnam Wall in DC which fought its way up hill for years and now is a national icon moving many adults to tears. If some had had their way the sculpture would have been a GI clutching an M16.

Btw the thing we know as Public Art is changing to encompass more far ranging things that seem more like installations than traditional art. The colleges have dubbed this Social Practices.

 

HW Kateley

9 Years Ago



Love the stuff. Love living where it's supported. I currently live near Portland, OR and have lived in that city. Lot's public art. Gives the place even more character than it already has.

Public art also enhances opportunities for the subject change.

Street Photography. (only 3 posts!) hahahahaahha

 

Barry Lamont

9 Years Ago

I met Razza at the plaza in Gaza where he has a hotdog stand.

 

Robert Frank Gabriel

9 Years Ago

I hope you are not referring to Graffiti as public art!!!
I know some graffiti artists are terrific but not on public buildings without first getting permission.

 

Nadalyn Larsen

9 Years Ago

I love public art! By no means is it a waste of any kind. Whether it is on a big city plaza or in the middle of nowhere, public art is a thrill to see. Stumbling upon art somewhere unexpected or even seeing a sculpture that you pass by every day in a different light can be a game changer. It can alter your mood and/or create excitement in an otherwise dull day. To give you all the examples that come to mind would take up far too much time and space here. A couple of examples, however, are: there is a sculpture on a street in my town that I pass every day. At first glance it looks like a big piece of black mesh nailed to a wall. But depending on the light and the speed with which you pass, the mesh appears to move, quivering in lots of light or rolling slowly like waves on a lake under a cloudy sky. I always feel a since of peace, even if it’s just for a moment, when I pass it. The second example is the amazing sculpture gardens I have discovered. One was off a thoroughfare in South Dakota; one on the ‘high road’ in New Mexico; and one on an obscure back road in Texas. All three made me stop and, of course, take photos, but also, gave me a sense of discovery, excitement, and amazement at the unique pieces of art, that provide beauty in unlikely places.

 

HW Kateley

9 Years Ago

I'm going to change the the subject to: Why don't we all read the OP? :)

 

Mario Carta

9 Years Ago

I think it's worth while IF, if the artist creating the work is given full creative freedom in creating the piece. I was very fortunate some time ago to have been referred to a city planner in the town I live in, the purpose was to discuss a copper sculpture they wanted in a historic part of town that was undergoing renovations. I met with the city planner and I was going to donate 1/2 of my labor to create a copper sculpture, the city was trying to raise the money for this sculpture from public donations from private businesses in the area. I submitted a general proposal for the sculpture based on what the city planner wanted which was a sculpture that had a theme related to scalloping season. Well to make a long story short when it went for approval before the city commissioners each of the commissioners had there opinion about what the sculpture was supposed to be like. The only consensus they could reach was a manatee, in a town where manatees have been over done. I gracefully bowed out, That has been my only experience with public art and it left a bad taste with me, politics and art don't mix well in my opinion.

 

Bob Galka

9 Years Ago

@HW... LOL

I do not in general think of street photography as fine art. I do see it useful to folks 50+ years from now as a document on how we used to live. At that point it becomes interesting.

that's 1

bob

 

Ed Meredith

9 Years Ago

"Street Photography. (only 3 posts!) hahahahaahha " - HW .... FUNNY!!!

Bob, OK here it comes... what is Fine Art??
What is it about "Street Photography" that restricts it from being Fine Art??

Remember this has to be resolved in the one remaining post before subject change... LOL

 

Lawrence Supino

9 Years Ago

"What is it about "Street Photography" that restricts it from being Fine Art??"

The same thing that may or may not "restrict" any other image as being labeled "fine art"....An opinion. ;)



Next topic:

Why, in a world where most everything we see is designed by an artist/creativity is the word "artist" still associated with a "starving artist" connotation?

 

Ed Meredith

9 Years Ago

Starving Artist is a redundant statement... lol

It's really a romanticized idea that art is somehow more legitimate if it is created by poor and suffering artist.
This notion was popularized in the mid-19th century by the writer Henri Murger, who wrote Scčnes de la vie de bohčme a French novel about a group of poor artists living in the Bohemian quarter of Paris. The book was wildly popular and it became trendy to be a poor artist.
Over the years, Murger’s ideas became entrenched in popular culture, and some artists hold to the notion that art is a product of the financially unsound and morally superior. Orrrr, it's that expenses, the cost of everything, has risen to intolerable heights for some, and there is an outright Art Glut in this age of technology. The price of emerging artist work has been driven so far down that the consumer of art now wants it for next to free... and we all don't have jobs...

 

Lawrence Supino

9 Years Ago

Ed...all that..but...

I really don't think an artist prefers suffering in order to legitimize their work or their path as an artist. Most artist pursue money through art they don't themselves sell...they gave up control of the business end of art.

I think since "artists" must create and prefer creating over business...the business savvy took control and there's always another artist to make money off of.

Who knows, maybe if artists (in the old days esp) all banded together and created brick and mortar spaces that sold their art...and have those spaces (like galleries once were) be mostly the only place art buyers went to buy art...then the term would have less artists that could be labeled with it?

In the end, the fact that most artists aren't usually 9-5'rs...along with other non-conforming traits, the fact they must create and that business people know this...
hasn't helped the matter any. ;)

See that Ed...only took 2 posts. ;) IMO.

 

Ed Meredith

9 Years Ago

Lawrence, i was never a 5 to 9'er and was always a "Hungry but Lazy Artist"
When i was an independent commercial photographer, i had to hire someone to be my boss and work for them... lol

OK then, lets change the subject...

What is the relationship between Context, Form and Content... and will it last?


Oh, and by the way... i love public art too, it should be funded ... %>))

 

HW Kateley

9 Years Ago

hummm... context is both objective and subjective since it involves the viewer. And even the objective is subjective in a secondary sense. (again, due to the viewer. )
Form is medium. Content is message or communication. "Will it last?" Which part? All is at risk due to change.

Public art should be funded, but only if it's not made of elephant dung, but then only because I'm not sure it last (depending on form and context.)

;)

 

Enver Larney

9 Years Ago

..sorry I have to jump in like this


but........

kevin,

man...that avatar r o c k s .....immortalised.....(could it be misconstrued as public Art?....I would hope not)

I now have two favourite Artists...

:)

 

Kevin Callahan

9 Years Ago

Thanks Enver, when you coming to the US?

Back to the subject, all public art is not paid for or even planned. Two examples: first, on the East Bay of San Francisco after they hauled a bunch of the old broken concrete from the 80s earthquake and dumped it on an isthmus next to the bay, people (artists) began building art pieces from the found objects, junk and concrete. It is very cool to walk through this impromptu sculpture garden. Second, I stayed south of Mendocino at place called Irish Beach. The shore is strewn with driftwood some small and others whole tree trunks. People use the wood to build fake structures of all sizes. Public art that is constantly shifting.

 

Bob Galka

9 Years Ago

New Subject.....

What do you think sells more here... "Fine Art", or "Wall Art"?

Meaning perhaps.. art for art's sake [ or art with meaning and sub meaning ], or art for the love of the image alone [ also called eye candy, decorative art etc ]

 

Ronald Walker

9 Years Ago

I would think wall art. Romance novels sell well.

 

HW Kateley

9 Years Ago

What if your last name is Wall, and you make art?

 

Mario Carta

9 Years Ago

Subject change, lets talk about how very few meaningful art conversations can be found on faa.

 

Bob Galka

9 Years Ago

You are right Mario.. It started to get bad a couple of months ago, the got a bit better, but now I have been seeing unexplained closures or threads. Apparently by the mods because most of the time if it is the OP that is closing the thread they say so in the last post. But recently they seem to just close in the middle of a conversation.

 

Mario Carta

9 Years Ago

No Bob, I was wrong!

 

Melissa Herrin

9 Years Ago

"So Im taking my time and movin' along. Youll forget about me after Ive been gone"

 

Mario Carta

9 Years Ago

What is the subject Now?

 

Julia Hamilton

9 Years Ago

But HW Kateley, what if your name is Art Wall, and you do Wall Art? Wouldn't that make it Art Wall Wall Art?

New subject: Who is your favorite artist of all time?

Mine: Edward Hopper

 

HW Kateley

9 Years Ago

What a palindromishy portrayed proposition...

I like your choice of Edward Hopper. Captivating images and style. Perhaps that's why Nighthawks has been parodied about 10,000 times...

Right now I'd say Edward Weston, but I also think of Winslow Homer.

 

Louise Reeves

9 Years Ago

Of all time-Keith Haring. Also am intrigued by Johannes Vermeer as his paintings give glimpses into the way of life during his time. There has been speculation and experiments to see if Vermeer used a camera obscura set up to achieve his life-like paintings.

 

Bob Galka

9 Years Ago

The Mimbres native American tribe's [ from the south west U.S. around 1100AD] black on white pottery bowls.

https://www.google.com/search?q=mimbres+bowls&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=GjrdU9mWDcO3igKx5YCQAw&ved=0CBwQsAQ&biw=1920&bih=994

bob

 

Louise Reeves

9 Years Ago

Bob's post leads me to this subject change: Which is more valuable to you? Family heirlooms or art and antiques as an investment?

For me, family heirlooms. I have no idea the value of some of the old things I have from my parents and grandparents, but many things that aren't old are just as or more valuable, like my father's artwork.

 

Louise Reeves

9 Years Ago

Oh my god!

I killed the thread! *sob*

 

Lisa Kaiser

9 Years Ago

I'm sorry Louise, I think the more value is in both heirlooms and art, especially if a relative was a painter or tapestry artist, or lace maker, or furniture builder... The question you asked is very hard to answer. I've had heirlooms that have been priceless. I store them at my parents house for safe keeping. I've never had a painting that was worth much because I can paint something new every weekend, but my grandmother's paintings are heirlooms that I would never sell; her lacemaking was amazing and is now framed. There were those who made beautiful furniture pieces as well and they are so valuable to me personally.

 

Bob Galka

9 Years Ago

I guess it all depends on how you were brought up. My mother was a big yard sale person [ by the way.. it is genic ;O) ] she and my dad would head out early on Saturdays and bring home boxes of stuff that they didn't even know what was in them. Back in the day the towns around us had spring cleaning days where the city would pick up what ever you put on the curb.. and people put really nice things out on the curb.. soooo of course they would get up early and cruise around in my dad's truck an bring home the most wonderful stuff.

Now... those were her heirlooms ;O) but she had so much nice things in boxes stored in the basement and garage that she would regularly swap out the dishes and silverware and vases, and all that stuff that was on the shelves in the living room and kitchen. And since she paid practically nothing for most of it.. when someone remarked how nice something was she either told them to take it, or sent it to them as a gift.

So I think I inherited that same feeling of the wonder of variety. Some people were surprised when I held multiple estate sales where literally "everything must go". They didn't understand "how can you just sell all your mother's things?". They just didn't understand that to here [ and me ] that they were "just things". She had an attachment to her "things" only for the moment, but really did not have a permanent "attachment" to any of it.

I have collected many things over the years but just about all of it was replaced by other things that caught my attention, and those things are now also gone. I guess my mother's example has taught me not to let "things" own you.

So to answer your question Louise.. I don't really put much value in either. My family did not have any heirlooms. My mother's mother came over from Poland alone on a ship when she was 11 years old, I never met my mother's father. I never met my father's mother, and my father's father had nothing to pass on. But I think if there were any family heirlooms I would only be interested in keeping something that I thought was interesting, not because of it's value. I personally would never "invest" in antiques. I do like old things, but I would never consider owning something old just as an investment.

bob

That's 3 comments... someone else start a new topic please ;O)

 

HW Kateley

9 Years Ago

Bob. That's a wonderful story and perspective. Attachment to things is something people struggle with I think, and it clearly makes folks. At the very least things don't make people happy, at least not for long.

Louise, you asked a great question. I think that things that family owned are more precious because they remind us of that connection and sometimes evoke cherished memory.

Ok, it's up to me to change the subject hey? A question then.

Regardless of what your art is now, what would like to learn that you haven't? I for example used to love to draw but haven't to any significant degree for years. Gave it up due the practicalities of being a busy responsible adult. Have recently thought about trying to relearn and learn more.





 

Ronald Walker

9 Years Ago

Ceramics, very little background but find it interesting. Do politics play a role in your art?

 

Louise Reeves

9 Years Ago

I would love to take anatomy drawing classes. I suck at drawing people. I have an internet artist friend who is an escorche` professor. He takes his classes to autopsies to study anatomy then they "build" an escorche` human body from the inside out. That I couldn't do.

 

Jeffrey Campbell

9 Years Ago

Politics is not a topic we discuss here.

 

Mario Carta

9 Years Ago

I was not discussing politics Jeffrey, I was answering a question about if politics play a role in my art, the answer of which was NO, but my post was removed, why I don't know? just saying the word politics, must be against the rules? not looking to argue with you or anything, just wanted clarification on what a political discussion is or is not. I am sorry if I violated any rules.

 

Bob Galka

9 Years Ago

;O(

 

Mario Carta

9 Years Ago

.

 

Ronald Walker

9 Years Ago

Pablo Picasso was a known communist and some of his political bend may have affected his art. I have no interest in creating a political fight but want to know if your political beliefs affect your art? That would be similar to asking if your sex or race has any affect on your art but in this case I am curious about ones political bend and it's effects.

 

Bob Galka

9 Years Ago

I can understand how artists could use their art to express their politics.. but for me.. no. I prefer to use art for it's visual impact.

 

Bob Galka

9 Years Ago

I take that back... I do sometimes like to use art to tell a story, but I have not had any desire to tell a political story.

 

Mario Carta

9 Years Ago

I would like to answer your question Ronald but It might violate the rules so I'm changing the subject. Do you follow rules when you create your art? I follow no rules when I sculpt, I don't even know what the rules are.

 

Jeffrey Campbell

9 Years Ago

Ronald, I understand what you're asking but, we need to leave references to politics outside the front door. It's against Forum policy. There's a million other possible topic changes we can discuss.

 

Mario Carta

9 Years Ago

.

 

Bob Galka

9 Years Ago

I sometime try to follow some rules in creating art, but it doesn't last very long, and what I intended to create and what I ended up with are nowhere close ;O)

 

Mario Carta

9 Years Ago

I think the most successful people in life know the value of breaking the rules, I certainly am not one to embrace rules with loving kindness, more important discoveries exist because people choose to break rules. In most case rules are needed to control the masses, to achieve really meaningful art look at what the masses are doing and then run in the opposite direction.

 

Ed Meredith

9 Years Ago

There is the argument that all art is political because, however abstract, it inevitably expresses the values of a given culture or social class.
Even when the artist claims to have no intentional political agenda, the art is often assigned one.

An example is Jasper Johns’, Flags, where Johns declares that he never intended this picture to be overtly political….
However, by looking at an image of a flag, the viewer has to consider the meaning of this symbol, "because knowledge blinds us to experience”…

He felt that by showing common things in unexpected ways art could challenge people to rethink their ideas and to become more self-aware. He said, "When something is new to us, we treat it as an experience. We feel that our senses are awake and clear. We are alive.” - [Jasper Johns, quoted in Jasper Johns: A Retrospective (New York: The Museum of Modern Art, 1996)

 

Mario Carta

9 Years Ago

Ed, nice informative post! Now if it's true we all have a problem here on FAA with it's no political agenda,Lol

 

Bob Galka

9 Years Ago

New subject....

Does your personality lean more towards OCD or reckless spontaneity?

 

Mario Carta

9 Years Ago

Reckless spontaneity for sure!

 

HW Kateley

9 Years Ago

Ok, so does Bobs subject change to OCD, etc count as 1 or 0? If it's one, then this the last OCD post and I have to come up with a new topic. If it's zero than this is 2, and if I present a new topic I'm early.

What to do! What to do! (I mean really I can't even evoke a deity., so OMG is right out) OMD OMD (oh my dog) ;)

Ok well, if it's time for a new topic, then it's shoelaces. That's right shoelaces! (if it's not time, then just ignore this. ) ;)



 

Jane McIlroy

9 Years Ago

Shoelaces have their uses, the main one being to stop one's shoes falling off.

 

Louise Reeves

9 Years Ago

Shoelaces are the duct tape of tying stuff up.
I use shoelaces to hang flowers for drying.
I use shoelaces to keep the pantry doors hooked to a hook so they don't blow shut when the window is open.
I use shoelaces to hold things together, like rolls of wrapping paper.
I use shoelaces to tie my sneakers as well...

 

Ed Meredith

9 Years Ago

They took my shoelaces away in lock-up...

 

Bob Galka

9 Years Ago

A post that only changes the subject does not count as a post of the new subject ;O)

 

HW Kateley

9 Years Ago

Phew! Well, I'm glad we cleared that up! ;)

 

Bob Galka

9 Years Ago

I knew you would not be able to get any work done today until that was cleared up... ;O)

New topic...

What do you do to entertain your brain?

 

HW Kateley

9 Years Ago

Online discussions, of what I cannot say...

Hint: Starts with P & R.

 

This discussion is closed.