Public artart presented in a public space

Public Art

What is public art?

Why make public art?

Who pays for public art?

Why is it controversial?

What is public art?

Public art is art created with the intention that it will be viewed by the general public, in the public place. For example: Art created for municipal buildings or city parks.

Public art is generally created with the idea of Site Specificity or, created specifically for the location it is installed, the artist does not intend for it to go any other place.

These artworks could be created as permanent works of art or as temporary works. Works which are meant to last only a certain period of time.

Why do artists make public art?

To make money or for profit

To expose their art to a wider population of people or for exposure

To educate the public

Could be about art in general, or even a specific cause

For functionality, the artwork serves a utilitarian purpose.

As part of the new deal in the 1930’s the Public Works of Art Project was created. “emphasized the “American scene” as subject matter—initiating about 700 mural projects and creating nearly 7,000 easel paintings and watercolours, about 750 sculptures, more than 2,500 works of graphic art, and numerous other works designated to embellish nonfederal public buildings and parks.”

"Public Works of Art Project." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2012. Web. 8 Feb. 2012.<http://www.school.eb.com/eb/article-9001168>.

Who pays for public art?

The government.

The artist.

A private funder.

Why is it controversial?

It is sometimes funded with tax payer money

It is sometimes illegal

People may not all understand it

Not everyone will like the art

It takes up space

Public Sculpturesa look at sculptures in the public space

Richard Serra, Tilted Arc, 1981

Almost as soon as it was built controversy lined this wall.

This sculpture stood for only a short period of time before it was required to be taken down.

Artist was offered the choice to move the sculpture, but said it was site specific

“accuse it of attracting graffiti, rats, and terrorists who might use it as a blasting wall for bombs”

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/cultureshock/flashpoints/visualarts/tiltedarc_a.html

Anish Kapoor, Cloud Gate, 2004-2006

Located in Millennium Park, Chicago, Illinois

Sculpture reflects a distorted image of the skyline as well as the millions of people who view it every year

The stainless steel sculpture was originally envisioned as the centerpiece of the Lurie Garden at the southeast corner of the park. However, Park officials believed the piece was too large for the Lurie Garden and decided to locate it at AT&T Plaza, despite Kapoor's objections

Robert Winkler, Over and Up, 2010

Temporarily on display at Western Carolina University

Not sit specific

All three dimensions LxWxH all 7.9 feet

What does weather do to a material like wood?

http://www.wcu.edu/museum/132.htm

Muralscommissioned paintings on walls

Raphael, School of Athens, 1510-1512

Murals can be collaborative or created by one artist.

Murals are typically large.

Painting created for the vatican.

This painting is a frescoe, or a painting embedded in plaster.

Features figures such as: Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, and Euclid

Diego Rivera, Mural In National Palace

Like many murals the murals of artist Diego Rivera tend to tell a story

This mural tells the story of Mexico’s history

Using the people as a reference you can tell the immense size of this painting

Murals in the areaMurals often depict the area which they are painted.

They also typically depict the lives of people or things happening in those areas.

Forest City Mural created in 2000

Mural of life in Cleveland County 2005

American Legion Mural 2008

Rutherford Hospital Mural 2005

Street Arta look at graffiti and a new culture of urban artists

Ancient GraffitiAncient graffiti would have represented political figures

Would have been created in city centers or forums

This particular early graffiti is thought to be the first representation of Jesus.

Ancient graffiti would also have been used for advertising and propoganda

Traditional GraffitiTraditional graffiti artists are anonymous to the general public

Often includes tags, or quick territorial markings of artists or even gangs

Sometimes is gang related

Artists create different fonts for spray painting or writing messages or symbols

Messages are sometimes poetic or satirical

Artworks are considered temporary often being replaced by the artwork of other artists or painted over by authorities.

Non Commissioned works of graffiti are illegal and considered vandalism.

Graffiti by SAMO aka Jean Michel Basquiat. Photographed by Henry Flynt

Pixel PhilArtist uses images which are rendered in the style of computer Icons.

Phil’s images clash with the environment due to their virtual style and the placement of those in a non-virtual environment.

In this image look at the relationship between the subject of the artwork and the subject of the surrounding environment.

Shepherd Fairey, Obama, 2007

Created for the Obama 2008 campaign.

Changed to the HOPE image seen from Obama’s Campaign.

Artist sued by Associated Press for use of their photograph

Shepherd Fairey part of a slew of street artists making the jump from urban art to fine art.

What’s the difference in this type of printed image shown in the media as a public work and a work in a stationary public space.