|
Public art scattered around Arkansas and the nation's cities, big and small, add quality of life to their inhabitants.
By John K. Woodruff, League staff
"[A]rt establishes the basic human truth which must serve as the touchstone of our judgment." -President John F. Kennedy: Remarks at Amherst College, Oct. 26, 1963 President Kennedy's remarks above at the time honored poet Robert Frost who had died early that year. But Kennedy directed his comments to praise all art. He said, "the nation that disdains the mission of art invites the fate of Robert Frost's hired man, the fate of having 'nothing to look backward to with pride, and nothing to look forward to with hope.' " Around Arkansas, art works are visible and in public-look forward and backward, too-at no admission price to view them, thanks to our cities and towns and their arts councils, individuals, groups and others who make art possible. In a fleeting glance on these pages and the City & Town cover are a very few examples of public art, just as it is practiced in the big cities. And a few samples are shown from a couple of big cities, too-Spokane, Wash., and Denver, Col. In Arkansas take, as an example, the Our Dreams sculpture on the campus of Watson Chapel Junior High School in Pine Bluff. View it and let your imagination soar. Need help? The sculpture says, in part: · Get a good education (that open book). · Bring about harmony, unity and peace among all races (the three hands extending from the book and the braces holding the world and book are black, yellow and white, representing three major races on this globe). · Use education to make the world a better place. The 1996 sculpture grew from the question, "What are your dreams?" put to eighth and ninth grade students in Pine Bluff, Lana Hilgeford, art teacher at the school, said a few weeks ago. Those students then took the question to other students in all grades in Pine Bluff-kindergarten through 12th. From scores of answers and surveys, the three dreams above-as reflected in the sculpture-prevailed. A federal grant, expertise from professional artist Don Shaw of Pine Bluff and lots of other help developed the art piece at 3900 Camden Road. Drive by and look at it, but also view another, History of Transportation, a larger piece that is 30 to 40 feet long, and also on the Watson Chapel campus. The Dreams piece stands at least 12 feet tall. State and local money helped make possible the Dragon sculpture in Hollywood Park in Hot Springs. It piques the imagination, but it appeared to be a very friendly dragon a few weeks ago-not the fire-breathing kind. Children from the Rukavina Child Care took advantage of its nice sitting surfaces and scrambled around the dragon and on it as they played and snacked. All the while they didn't seem perturbed by the large dragon eyes and mouth. The Arkansas Arts Council and the Junior Auxiliary of Hot Springs gathered the wherewithal. Another public art sculpture, shepherded by the local arts council at Wynne, is The Learning Curve public sculpture-an amphitheater at Wynne High School. Even without a public performance or classroom exercise going on, the structure's lines, shapes, walkways and memory bricks create an interesting study. The Arkansas Arts Council, which helps pay for such projects, receives funds from the state legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts. The Council is at 501-324-9766; e-mail if info@arkansasarts.com and its Web site is www.arkansasarts.com. Private foundations, businesses, individual donations, federal grants and other funding sources are available. At Camden, receipts from Advertising and Promotion tax and proceeds from the city's Daffodil Festival helped pay for downtown murals, such as the one on the cover and overlooking the small park with benches. The park and mural "add to the aesthetic appeal" and "enhance the shopping pleasure" downtown, Mayor Chris Claybaker said. Public art gives everyone a chance to participate, and, usually, at any hour of the day or night. Taking the arts to the neighborhoods and streets increases access to the arts and, like the Public Art Fund of New York, says, is "dismantling any barriers to the accessibility of contemporary art." Placing the art in public places provides artists with a unique opportunity to expand their artistic practice, the Art Fund says. Some cities state it out loud or in mission statements, but overall, much of the intent in making art easily accessible to the public is, simply put, to enhance the quality of life in the city through the arts.
Mena builds for the future
FEMA is coming to town and what it means for you
|
