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cthulu2016

(10,960 posts)

61. Here's a great story about why public art sucks

Fri May 25, 2012, 06:07 PM

May 2012

A friend who is an excellent sculptor used to compete for commissions for outdoor pieces for new buildings.

One was an office building near a metro station and he proposed a monumental statue of a generic white-collar working woman. Very generic face and figure and business attire.

This was 1991, 1992.

At the architectural review meeting when he revealed the model the first reaction was a guy exclaiming, "Just what we need. An Anita Hill monument."

???

It seems that any representation of a human being is too controversial.

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Highlight:

Bare Breasts On Statue Offend Some at Arboretum [View all] proud2BlibKansan May 2012 OP

I find it rather disturbing also Marrah_G May 2012 #1

I had to take second look, EvilAL May 2012 #8

Just like the entrance to the LA Coliseum Art_from_Ark May 2012 #15

Greek Olympic athletes in antiquity competed in the nude. This is probably an homage to that since stevenleser May 2012 #32

It was and is, and there were complaints from the same assholes Egalitarian Thug May 2012 #36

They might have competed without clothes Art_from_Ark May 2012 #68

Actually it predates the olympics in L.A. Angleae May 2012 #69

I've seen tons of nude statues without heads, but... Brother Buzz May 2012 #17

It looks highly suggestive of Shankapotomus May 2012 #22

Oh jesus fucking christ on a IPhone charger snooper2 May 2012 #26

Well, the head is missing, Shankapotomus May 2012 #27

Not a great response to a critique of art Bucky May 2012 #63

that was my thought as well Marrah_G May 2012 #48

A lot of Art is disturbing. annabanana May 2012 #31

Guernica comes to mind. You are SUPPOSED to be disturbed by Guernica. That's the point. stevenleser May 2012 #33

I don't think it should be censored Marrah_G May 2012 #70

I'm pretty sure that's the point. Taking her own pic at a photo spot sans head... Egalitarian Thug May 2012 #37

Sigh..........this woman should just get over it. PDJane May 2012 #2

Someone once told me that, at the Vatican, one pope was offended by male genitalia on statues applegrove May 2012 #3

That was mentioned in a History Channel (or was it NatGeo?) program I saw HillWilliam May 2012 #30

LOL! applegrove May 2012 #47

I was told in the Vatican that that's only partly true Nevernose May 2012 #55

That's what happens to your head after you make duck lips HarveyDarkey May 2012 #4

I find it to be aesthetically pleasing. Comrade_McKenzie May 2012 #5

Looks like Thinkpol is hard at work again Major Nikon May 2012 #6

So Who Was Offended... The Birch Or The Oak... WillyT May 2012 #7

Teabaggers who are dumb as a stump Major Nikon May 2012 #9

Y'all need to come to Nashville and see our Musica Statue. Uncle Joe May 2012 #10

No mention of Matisse and his 'Dance' painting? RadiationTherapy May 2012 #21

There is no doubt that Matisse was an influence Uncle Joe May 2012 #25

remember john ashcroft... la la May 2012 #11

Good thing he got it taken care of... TroglodyteScholar May 2012 #12

I am a civil liberties fanatic and porn apologist... cthulu2016 May 2012 #13

I do not question as being "appropriate." I would hope it would engage the viewer in a CTyankee May 2012 #14

I would say that an artwork that makes a lot of visitors feel cthulu2016 May 2012 #29

I don't have too many expectations about art in public spaces, altho I do kind of like CTyankee May 2012 #44

I saw a "curator" take a chainsaw to the penis of a statue once. cthulu2016 May 2012 #56

Nothing like art to make people crazy! CTyankee May 2012 #57

Here's a great story about why public art sucks cthulu2016 May 2012 #61

Well, you know, everyone is going to have their own interpretation of public art! CTyankee May 2012 #66

It's not erotic to me Art_from_Ark May 2012 #16

I don't object to the nudity but I find it creepy and unattractive. It probably gives kids Raine May 2012 #18

yet the NFL is a family setting and that's three hours of men trying to cripple themselves Suji to Seoul May 2012 #20

very provocative. i like it. Suji to Seoul May 2012 #19

Oh Jesus Tap-Dancing CHRIST. HughBeaumont May 2012 #23

John Ashcroft brought it back. proud2BlibKansan May 2012 #24

When Rick was assigned to the Captain's landing party his shirt was red and he was made of meat. hunter May 2012 #28

I'm offended spinbaby May 2012 #34

I cannot help but be reminded of an old SNL skit. GoCubsGo May 2012 #35

Very interesting albeit startling statue... Spazito May 2012 #38

There is a large photo of it cthulu2016 May 2012 #39

you spelled it out very well. nt seabeyond May 2012 #40

I did as you suggested and get your point on... Spazito May 2012 #41

The curator said that the sculpture is meant to convey the idea that the person stevenleser May 2012 #42

You make some very good points... Spazito May 2012 #43

Well, would these be OK for a park/Arboretum? stevenleser May 2012 #46

We assess public comfort in terms of public comfort cthulu2016 May 2012 #51

Using your criteria, we shouldnt have an issue with this sculpture. stevenleser May 2012 #65

well, that was my thought when I realized she was holding a camera on herself. CTyankee May 2012 #50

Offered for Contrast: cthulu2016 May 2012 #49

It is an interesting contrast... Spazito May 2012 #52

13? No way. More like 17 or 18. ...nt TeeYiYi May 2012 #59

Actually 15. I misremembered. cthulu2016 May 2012 #60

I have hesitated, in some of my Challenge threads, to post images of art that is CTyankee May 2012 #67

I agree with your commentary lunatica May 2012 #45

This editorial is hilarious. proud2BlibKansan May 2012 #53

Wait: women have nipples, too?!? Nevernose May 2012 #54

Whoa! Careful, some kid might poke his eye out! /nt MatthewStLouis May 2012 #58

most women have breasts but they usually have heads Rosa Luxemburg May 2012 #62

I support the right of the artist hyphenate May 2012 #64