7/15/2009

Commissioner Peck's public art standard might be set too high

This past week, the Salina City Commission voted down a new art element for a city entrance, thereby saving the city about $50,000 and themselves a whole lot of grief and criticism.

In this case, the site was the Interstate Highway 70 and North Ninth intersection. The art element was described in reporter David Clouston's story as sawed-off utility poles topped by windsocks.

The sculpture was supposed to represent the city's historic ties to the milling and aircraft industries. The windsocks and aircraft, we get. The poles? Not so much. But to be fair, we've not seen the artwork. Maybe the poles would immediately make us think of nothing else but milling.

In speaking against the proposal, Commissioner Aaron Peck said, "The entrances of the community ought to have something that's aesthetically pleasing and easy for all to sort of 'get.' And this doesn't meet that criteria for me."

It seems to us that Commissioner Peck has raised the bar for modern public art impossibly high. If we're going to require that even some of us "sort of get it" before we can install it, then forget it.

What do the humanoid blobs at the Law Enforcement Center mean? How about the blue pipes and those blue things on the basins at the water treatment plant? The crazy angles on the Ohio Street Overpass? The red, slanted poles up on North Ninth?

For most of us, if we're honest, unless the artist explains their art (or even if they do), we -- those paying for it -- don't get it, even "sort of." The best that most of can do with modern art is to say whether or not we find it pleasing.

We love Salina's public art. It dresses up the town and separates us from the same old, same old. But we're honest enough to admit that while we might find those slanted, red poles up on North Ninth festive and intriguing, that's about as deep as we go.

We're not sure what the standard for modern public art should be, but we're pretty sure if we're counting on even a small section of the public to get it, it's not gonna happen.

-- Ben Wearing

Executive Editor

822-1421

bwearing@salina.com

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