Public Art Denotes a Caring Community
People today lead hectic individual lives. As a result, modern society needs creativity and vision more than ever. Something extra that takes your mind off day-to-day concerns, and bring a smile or frown, depending on your mood. The same way animal pets make us better humans even though not everyone likes the same breeds.
That's why we formed a Mayor's Committee for Public Art in 2002. To enhance our quality of life and make Summit a more caring, thoughtful, and tolerant society by using art to remind us of some universal truths which the pressures of daily life often cause us to forget.
This approach has recently achieved wide acclaim for inspiring a sense of citizenship and connectivity unfelt before. Not only in Manhattan with "The Gates" of Central Park, but also 300 cities across the USA having similar programs.
It's fun holding public office at a time like this, and sustain the efforts of my predecessor Michel Bitritto on Buildings & Grounds Committee implementing Mayor Glatt's Partnership for the Arts. I believe it feeds the public realm every bit as much as a well-fought political campaign, causing people to go beyond their own family circle of family, profession, and neighbors to find other things in common.
Since change is unavoidable, it helps to see the mundane in a different light. So we sprinkled four sculptures around Downtown - in spaces heretofore viewed as sacrosanct - hoping it would invite engagement with strangers and communication with fellow passers-by. And they have.
Next came a juried contest for enhancing the Roundabout at our train station. This was a huge success involving dozens of artists and lots of community input. In the end, traffic safety overruled artistic merit at this location, and a tree will remain its sole occupant.
All of this with zero expenditure of taxpayer dollars. Soon graceful murals will adorn the three bus shelters along Broad Street. And fresh lawn exhibits will join the temporary displays rotating around town.
Public Art gets away from the idea that works of art are elaborate mechanisms for defining social relationships, strengthening class rules, or storing wealth. With Public Art, culture is not a tedious museum visit or snobby gallery opening. Instead it becomes a part of daily life that can be accepted or rejected at whim, just like you decide to shop at Starbucks or go to a movie.
Elitism assumes that art is somehow a status symbol. "Public Art" is completely and defiantly not this. It's something you can evaluate and judge, without being right or wrong.
Many thanks for all the comments I have received on behalf of Common Council. We look forward to continuing this wonderful dialogue. Please keep those emails coming!
Tom's Current Agenda
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Public Art
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