Monday, April 14, 2008

My Town Monday: You call this art?



Denver has a new piece of public art. It's located at Denver International Airport, which since I am traveling often to promote my book I get to see way too much of. Our public arts folks are googly-eyed over it, but I find it hideous. Even worse than ugly, it doesn't mean anything to me. It's supposed to be about movement and power. OK. So why is it blue? Why does it have Satanic red eyes? And thick black veins going through it (which this picture spares you from)? I'm not inclined to be one of those people who think art should mean something obvious. Or should always be "pretty." But boy this mustang doesn't do it for me.


And it's not our only piece of not-so-great public art. We also have a big blue bear (we like big blue animals for some reason), which peeks into the Convention Center. It's cute. And amusing. Ha, ha, a big blue bear is looking inside at all the conventioneers. But...art?


However, my votes for the worst public sculptures are these:
These stick-figure dancers hang out in front of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Whatever planet these folks are from, can we send them back? Please. Perhaps these "big giant heads" (which Hubby actually likes) located in City Park can help them find their way home.


Anybody moved by some public art in Denver or somewhere else?

17 comments:

Terrie Farley Moran said...

In New York, our percent for the arts program has give us some really bizarre sculpture as well.

If I had a camera, I'd gladly share.

Terrie

Shauna Roberts said...

I like the giant heads. I don't hate the horse or dancing people, but I would be disappointed if I lived in Denver and my tax dollars paid for those.

Anonymous said...

Go to the Art Museum in Denver - the sinks sing when the water goes down. Is shown on youtube.......oh the money we spend in Colorado for "art"!

Lisa said...

I'm glad I'm not the only one who was horrified by the big blue bronco on the way into DIA! I just about drove off the road the first time I saw it. Not my thing either...

Now in DC, they've got some incredible sculpture in the sculpture garden across from the National Gallery -- Rodins, Henry Moores, Degas -- just beautiful.

Earth Angel said...

This post made me laugh. I agree, that mustang's pretty hideous, but I love the way you described it. Then to scroll down and see the dancing longleg people...whew boy...

Debbielou said...

I actually don't mind the horse too much on first glance,as I can see something in it.

Henry Moore the sculpture has a gallery 2 miles up the road from where I live which is very interesting

Karen L. Simpson said...

I'm a passionate horse lover but this is kinda ugly. If they wanted to see gigantic horse scuplture done right they should have looked at Da Vinci's American Horse at the Frederick Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapid MI. Take a look at the picture. Elegant. Beautiful. Breathtaking in size.

http://www.janeek.com/horse.htm

I love the blue bear.

I invite you to come to Ann Arbor to see public art that dosen't make any darn artistic sense

pattinase (abbott) said...

Those eyes put me right off.

Lana Gramlich said...

I suspect the horse statue represents your local NFL team, the Denver Broncos. After all, their team colors are blue & orange (not quite the red of the eyes, but close!)
There are strange, garishly colorful buffalo statues all over Buffalo, NY, if it's any consolation! *L*

Larramie said...

The giant heads and rearing bronco scare me a bit, Carleen. Just think if they would topple over?!

Travis Erwin said...

I'm guessing the horse ties into the Broco foot ball team idea or something. Stick figures wiht butt cheeks? Seems odd alright.

Anonymous said...

Yes, the horse is scary and unappealing in every way, but I love the dancing figures at the DCPA.

Julie Kibler said...

Yeah, I think I prefer our mustangs in Las Colinas!

http://blameitonthevoices.blogspot.com/2008/03/bronze-horses-splashing-in-water.html

The red eyes are a bit offputting, and my first thought was how terrifyingly huge the Denver horse is! Although it's kind of hard to tell with the camera perspective.

Call me cheesy, but I always like the bronze statues of people here or there, sitting on park benches, children playing, etc.

And, I almost always like the art painted on the sides of buildings or roadways, especially when it keeps kids out of trouble.

WordVixen said...

Yanno, I don't think I've ever seen a piece of public "art" that was actually any good. They always seem to have been dreamt up by a board of city politicians rather than an artist.

Although, the bear really does crack me up. I'm not sure that I'll ever forget that!

Carleen Brice said...

See...this just shows to go ya: taste is a very subjective thing. Maybe debate and conversation are the ultimate purpose for public art?

Josephine Damian said...

Ditto the red eyes - they should have left that part out.

And those white stick figures! Ugh! I figure any art I coulda done myself ain't art.

But hey, if you're making all those trips it means your book tour is in full swing. Much luck!

Anonymous said...

That blue horse just plain creeps me out. For a nicer and even useful version of "horse as public art," see this story in the Rocky Mountain News: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2007/jan/13/park-is-winning-horse-race/. The bonus? My kid sister's horse, Kid, was the model for the statue. He occasionally even makes a public appearance.