Public Art Review

Jamaica is mourning one its most controversial sculptors, Christopher Gonzalez. He was the artist that nearly created a full scale riot, after unveiling his statue of Bob Marley. It is no mean feat getting the Rastafarian’s in a tizz over a memorial, but he succeeded. Hmm, it seems, when the government commissioned him in 1983 to create a monument to honor Jamaica’s favorite son, they were not quite expecting what they got. Instead of a lifelike bronze they got a whole lot of interpretation. The iconic dreadlocks falling from Marley’s head, all the way to the ground, where they became part of the earth, did not impress. Nor did the lack of likeness to their legend. The public were horrified and the backlash gave the Prime Minister, Edward Seaga, no choice but to order it removed by JDF soldiers no less. The statue was sent to the National Gallery to hide, whilst a new statue was commissioned by a more conventional artist, Alvin Marriott. Still, I bet Alvin sweated over his design.
If that little fiasco wasn’t enough for Gonzalez, he moved on to offend the Catholics. Did no one warn him NOT to make certain parts of Christ’s anatomy too well endowed. Ah, but wait, there is more, can’t offend just one denomination, Anglicans got a taste of Gonzalez too. He caused a stir when he depicted Christ as a Negroid in a commissioned work for St Jude’s Anglican Church. So rest in peace Christopher, your work here on earth has been done!

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Ok, so it isn’t really a about public art, but as there is a lack of controversial stories this week relating to public art, I thought I would add this. Evidently two employees have quit their job over the New Hampshire Historical Society’s decision to sell Hannah Duston Bobbleheads.

So who is Hannah Duston ? Well in 1697, Hannah Duston was ripped from her home in Haverhill, Massachusetts by Abenaki Indians to an island in the Merrimack River in Concord. After being supposedly abused by the Indians she is said to have escaped by scalping members of the tribe. Bobblehead/scalping, I can see the conflict ! Especially as Hannah Dunston bobblehead is holding a hatchet (ouch!). Hmm tad insensitive I agree and not really appropriate for a historical society. Maybe the society should have done a Bobblehead of her sister, Elizabeth, who was convicted and hung for killing her illegitimate twin babies. As a point of interest Hannah is believed to be the first woman honored in the United States with a statue and now, the first woman scalper to be honored with a Bobblehead.

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The famous Roman statue of the twins, Romulus and Remus, sucking from the she-wolf (Lupa Capitolina) has been carbon dated and guess what? It ain’t that old. Well, it is old, but just not as old as everyone was led to believe. It seems the experts just assumed that the bronze was made by the Etruscan’s in the 5th century BC. Gee, they even had proof,Cicero, a Roman statesman of that period described the statue as having a damaged paw after being struck by lightning. It would take until 2006 before someone called Cicero’s bluff. Anna Maria Carruba, an Italian art expert, was adamant that is was a ruse. She argued that the statue had been cast using a wax mould, something those Etruscan’s knew nothing about. To make matters worse she suggested that the paw was actually a casting mistake (ouch!). Well, thanks to carbon dating they now believe Lupa Capitolina was manufactured in the 13th century, about 800 years ago, in the Romanesque Period. So what does this mean , will it retain its importance in Roman art? I am thinking not. Whew, lucky Dan Brown didn’t use Lupa Capitolina in the Da Vinci Code (that would have been embarrassing!).

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When you approve a statue of Jesus (with an erection) to be shown in your art gallery, you are bound to find yourself in some sort of trouble. But I bet the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead weren’t expecting to find themselves facing six months prison and a £5,000 fine. Hmm that seems the price you have to pay for outraging public decency. The culprit behind this sordid tale is controversial artist Terence Koh, who also included in the exhibition, statues of Mickey Mouse and ET with erections (they seemed to have avoided scrutiny). The main argument in the case seems to be “had the statue been of Muhammad rather than Christ, there would have been a far greater outcry”. I am surprised the artist didn’t include both !

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I’ve heard it all now, an art gallery at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead is being taken to court because one of their exhibitions displayed a statue of Jesus with an erection. Holy indecency. The main argument in the prosecution is “had the statue been of Mohammad rather than Christ, there would have been a far greater outcry”. I am thinking Yes ( ain’t that right Salman ?). The culprit is controversial artist, Terence Koh, who also included Mickey Mouse and ET with erections in the exhibition (but they escaped the wrath). Hmm the maximum fine for outraging public decency is six months prison and a £5,000 fine. Gee, if that is the case imagine how many sculptors we could get off the streets!

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Legacy Statue, Melbourne.

Sometimes things just don’t make any sense. In April I wrote a post about the Kings Park boards refusal to allow a legacy statue to be erected in the War Memorial precinct of King Park. After public outcry on several talk back radio programs I just assumed the situation would be resolved, especially as Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance has a similar statue taking pride of place next to the Shrine and much loved The Man and the Donkey statue. They even went so far as to place the statue in a beautiful rose garden. So imagine my surprise today when I listen to the radio and found that the problem had not been resolved. In fact the Kings Park Board have given them three locations in which they can erect the statue, which frankly I find unacceptable (and are no where near the precinct). I can not imagine any Digger having an issue with having a statue erected on behalf of Legacy. It is such a shame. I think the board should consult the RSL or at least the Diggers about anything concerning the War Memorial Precinct. Which, lets face it , is for the people who gave of themselves to protect this country. LEST WE FORGET!

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Having a Barramundi with Bon !

You know I wrote a blog entry months ago asking if anyone knew where the hell the Bon Scott statue was in Fremantle, after all the pomp and ceremony. Well, I patiently waited for an announcement of its long awaited unveiling, only to discover it has already been unveiled, at Cicerello’s . Yes, that’s right, but before you get too excited I must warn you it isn’t outside but inside (I couldn’t make this up). Hmm, I am sure Bon Scott would see the funny side of his memorial location. A “fish n chip” shop really doesn’t seem to be that fitting for a rock icon. I am not sure whether I should laugh or cry. Does this mean instead of having a beer with Bon I will have to have Barramundi ?

So, who is to blame for this injustice ? I have a sneaking suspicion local council weren’t exactly shaking all night long with the thought of Bon gracing the streets of their fair city. But in a Fish n Chips shop (no offense to Cicerellos) ! Surely one of the pubs could have plonked him near the bar ?

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From the State that gave you Man Mountain now presents, Blinking Billy Point, a bigger and better controversial piece of public art. Yes, Tasmania or more precisely Hobart City Council have found themselves facing the wrath of angry locals, including the indigenous community after announcing a $300,000 sculpture will be erected on the Sandy Bay foreshore. The 10 m high stainless steel cylindrical creation is said to represent a lighthouse and an Aboriginal campfire at night. The Aboriginal community are up in arms because they were not consulted about it and the local residents are upset because it looks like, well, a 10m high stainless steel cylinder. So far 400 hundred names have been added to a petition circulating in the area. Stay tuned it is about to become a Blinking Sore Point.

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Next time you sight a neglected piece of public art spare a thought for the artist (it is their reputation on display too). Once a piece has been completed, the sculptor can only hope that his or her work of art will be cared for and nurtured by the forces that be. Unfortunately that is not always the case. Take the Emerging sculpture in Atlanta, Georgia, for example. Sculptor and artist Mark Smith is passionate about his work and is more than a little annoyed that his sculpture has been neglected to the point that it has lost its original meaning. Mark has gone to extraordinary lengths to get help in restoring the Emerging (which by the way is one of my favorite sculptures in Atlanta) only to be told it really isn’t their responsibility. Disillusioned by the whole thing he is now trying to raise money to restore it himself, shame. The park adjacent to his sculpture has been given a full makeover but it seems there just isn’t enough money in the coffers for a little TLC on his sculpture. I visited Atlanta in 2007 and grabbed some snaps of it for my website, unaware that it was in such a terrible state. Despite this I thought it was the most exciting and thought provoking of the public art I saw. I guess Mark was horrified when he discovered I had included the neglected piece on my website (Public Art Around The World) and contacted me. After watching a presentation of the before and after of Emerging it is no wonder Mark is fighting to have the sculpture restored. Placed in a prominent and busy intersection the people and motorists of Atlanta deserve more and should be treated to the real Emerging with all its reflective power. Check out Mark Smiths website and watch his presentation.

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That Cowparade ! The largest public art collection in the world is in the news again. Last time a group of militant Norwegians held one of the cows hostage because they believed the Cowparade was not about art but advertising. That poor cow ended up decapitated! So now I hear that an arsonist in Budapest has set fire to the warehouse in Budafok, which has been storing past and present cows. From all reports the Rubiks Cow was amongst the victims. Organizers believe “A hate-ridden person took the law into their own hands with the result that the cows have been destroyed”. The organizers are convinced it was a diliberate act of sabotage but they are confident that the show will go on, even it is delayed for a few weeks. The Cowparade raises money for charity by auctioning off the cows after they have been painted by local artists and celebrities.

The Budapest Cowparade hasn’t been without its fair share of controversy, two years ago the Melting Lollipop cow was ceremoniously moved and dumped outside the ‘House of the Liberals’ after a group were highly offended at its original location. Evidently the Melting Lollipop cow was displayed with its butt pointing in the direction of the Szent István’s Basilica.

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