I recently visited a friend who makes his living as a painter. There are paintings, sketches and other signs of his work throughout his house. Art in various stages of development is everywhere. He has built a large body of work that continues to grow every day. I was . . . → Read More: Dr. J, Building a Body of Work and Going Pro]]>

"Warhol Art in a Can" from jelene

I recently visited a friend who makes his living as a painter. There are paintings, sketches and other signs of his work throughout his house. Art in various stages of development is everywhere. He has built a large body of work that continues to grow every day. I was so impressed with evidence of his efforts. Once he gets his website back online, I’ll add a link to his work. (The Warhol can isn’t Micheal’s, I just thought it was cool.)

I would like to think that the reason I’ve let my blog become stale is because I am the parent of a young toddler or that my work responsibilities have increased now that the economy is less frightening than it was in 2009. While I have reached the time consuming “goaltender” stage of fatherhood and work has become more involved, the real reason is a lack of discipline.

It’s hard to keep sustained effort going on a blog (or a novel or a new business idea) when it’s easy to let the status quo dominate your day.

Right after visiting my artist friend, I also encountered the following quote from Julius Erving (Dr. J to basketball fans): “Being a professional is doing the things you love on the days you don’t feel like doing them.”

Dang Doc. That’s kind of sums it up.

So…I need to start blogging again. A lot. Even when I don’t really feel like it. Because that’s what professionals do.

Not the white suspension bridge…the other thing. Any guesses? A pile of calf’s livers? A collection of kidney beans shaped like a man’s naughty bits?

That is a sculpture called National Velvet by John McEnroe and is a recent addition to Denver, Colorado’s collection of public art.

Neat, eh? . . . → Read More: Does Public Art Have a Responsibility to the Public?]]> What do you see in the picture to the right?

Not the white suspension bridge…the other thing. Any guesses? A pile of calf’s livers? A collection of kidney beans shaped like a man’s naughty bits?

That is a sculpture called National Velvet by John McEnroe and is a recent addition to Denver, Colorado’s collection of public art.

Neat, eh? I can’t make up my mind. Let’s discuss what I have decided to call the “Beanie Weenie.”

Pros:

• It’s not boring.
• It’s…um…not boring.

Cons:

• It’s a big phallic symbol right next to the main highway in the largest city in Colorado.

While every city can’t have public art from Frank Gehry as cool as this or this, do we really have to settle for a Beanie Weenie? This takes us back to the question I asked in the title of this post: Does public art have a responsibility to the public?

I would say the answer is a qualified yes. I am not going to argue that we should limit the subject matter for a public commission to bunnies, rainbows and snowflakes. But I will argue that when your artwork is part of a public place, it needs to be something that doesn’t make me shake my head and mutter, “wonder how many of my tax dollars some idiot, pointy-headed bureaucrat spent on that.”

And what about the notion art should challenge the viewer and not everyone is going to like it? That’s cool when you’re buying art for your own living room. Buy all the crazy stuff you want. If you are going to put it up for all of us to see and enjoy, you do owe all of us something. Respect maybe? Acknowledgment of the trust being placed in you to make our city look good?

At least the Beanie Weenie isn’t the emaciated, demonic horse-thing the city stuck out at Denver International Airport to greet new visitors to the Mile High City. Having that sculpture be the first thing you see when you leave the airport is like having your angry, drunk uncle dress up in a toga and greet the guests at your wedding as they arrive. Not the best way to make a first impression.

The city is marketing itself to visitors and current citizens with public art. What exactly is the gang at Denver Pubic Art Program trying to say to all of us?