Public and Participatory Art Inspired Thoughts..

Creating Public Art/ Participatory Art

        Reading "Creating Public Art Through Intergenerational Collaboration" by Alexenberg and Benjamin, my mind wandered through several mental images and greater concepts. This article dived into several ideas including postmodern art, participatory and/or public art, cultural and ethnic groups and narratives that can create artworks. The "Legacy Thrones" that were masterfully created and collaborated on by art students and elders from various cultural backgrounds, were publicly installed at the shoreline in Miami. There, the monumental artworks stand tall through all sorts of sun, rain, and gazes and touches from judgmental or encouraging viewers. The most important concept of these thrones is the story behind them that helped with their creation, as well as what fresh eyes take from them. What do tourists, everyday pedestrians, fellow art students, children, elderly, etc. think when they see these pieces? Is it confusion? Excitement? Perhaps those who take a closer look find clues or images of  sentimental value and connections for them? What meanings and explanations do they create for the thrones in their minds?

        

      

   I believe that any "good" art, especially public art, makes viewers think. It may first simply gain attention from its sudden installation, unique form or other attributes that are puzzling to the public. Which is enough! But if it can make its viewers engage and try to think of answers and/or personally connect, that is fantastic. If the piece can also have the public interact, or participate to create it or once it is installed, that is double fantastic in my eyes! I think of an artwork being more successful sometimes when there is more thought or unique meaning behind it. Having several different hands and minds working on an art piece can only make it more dense, right!? Like this! Multiple participants and bold statements through art.

   I kept bouncing between the ideas of participatory art, and public installation art as I read through this week's article. I loved it! I liked how the article felt like it had several lenses to it, like the legacy thrones themselves. As cheesy as it sounds, at the end of the day, it's all left up to the artists, or writers and the audience to interpret it all for themselves and leave with what they want. A good article, a good art piece, a good song, should all let the audience leave with at least one small thought or one small connection they made. 

Now in relation into installation/public art and because we're all cold and grumpy.. watch this clip.

But really, watch it..   "unconventional art"

Alexenberg M. & Benjamin M. (2004). Creating Public Art Through Intergenerational Collaboration. Art Education. 13- 18.

Sperber I. (2004). Legacy Thrones. Retrieved from http://www.miamiartzine.com/archived-issues/issue89/2right.htm