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Public space has long served as a venue for the staging of activist activities, from the organization of demonstrations to the display of guerrilla art. The print medium—distinguished for its multiplicity, relative cheapness and ease of production, and capacity for wide circulation—is ideal for responding to the revolutionary possibilities ...
Jul 17, 2023 · From towering sculptures to vibrant murals, art in public spaces is more than just decoration or an afterthought. It’s an integral part of urban planning and design, as important to a city’s identity as its architecture or green spaces.
- Beginnings of Public Art
- Concepts and Styles
- Later Developments - After Public Art
Historical Precedents
Public Art has existed for thousands of years, across numerous cultures and societies, and has served a range of functions. In ancient Greek and Roman culture, for example, sculpture played an important role in communication between the state and the people. Mass-produced statues of the Roman Emperor Augustus Caesar were placed in various public locations to function as propaganda, communicating particular attributes of the leader. This persistent sculptural presence brought to mind his posit...
The Emergence of Modern Cities and the Public Sphere
In the wake of the Industrial Revolution, and the resultant relocation of high numbers of people from rural areas to urban centers, the modern city took on new importance in the cultural and social spheres, and became a discerned space of existence with particular effects on the human psyche. Consequently, all Public Art located in modern cities comes into conversation with urban life and mentality. American historian, sociologist, and philosopher Lewis Mumford wrote in 1937 that the city is...
Public Art as Pride: Community and Memory
French philosopher Maurice Halbswachs asserts that rather than functioning solely on an individual, isolated level, memory is codependent and co-constitutive, writing that, "It is in society that people normally acquire their memories. It is also in society that they recall, recognize, and localize their memories ... It is in this sense that there exists a collective memory; it is to the degree that our individual thought places itself in these frameworks and participates in this memory that...
Public Monuments and Memorials
Monuments and memorials are usually sculptural (sometimes architectural) artworks that are created for the purpose of commemorating or remembering a person, group of people, or historical event. They are often located on a site of importance, such as the site of an important battle or a tragic societal experience. They can mark unifying celebration as equally as facilitate the processing of communal grief. As Federico Bellentani, professor of semiotics and geography, explains, "monuments play...
Public Murals
Major muralism movements of the twentieth century, particularly post-Revolution Mexican muralism, and WPA-sponsored murals in the United States, were characterized by content that focused on developing national pride, asserting core national values, and championing technological progress in the wake of devastating events (the Mexican Revolution, and the Great Depression). These murals were not only intended to beautify public spaces, but also to communicate important messages to even the illi...
Public Sculpture
When not seeking to commemorate or memorialize, public sculpture serves a range of purposes. Many artists aim merely to beautify and leave their mark on public spaces (such as Jeff Koons' Balloon Flower (Red) (1995-1999, New York City)). Others hope that their works will cause viewers to reconsider their relationship to their urban environment. For example, in Bridge Over Treein New York's Brooklyn Bridge Park, Iranian-born, Minneapolis-based artist Siah Armajani aimed to create a sculptural...
A number of organizations support, commission, and fund Public Art projects in the United States and beyond. The National Endowment for the Arts (founded in 1965) recently renewed their commitment, in their 2018-2022 Strategic Plan, to "dedicate a portion of grantmaking funds to projects that integrate the arts into the fabric of community life," i...
Jul 5, 2021 · When public art pairs artistic expression with community engagement, it can honour the diverse communities that share public spaces and spur important conversations.
- Rhiannon Cobb
Public art matters because our communities gain cultural, social, and economic value through public art. In this document we will explore how public art impacts five community values: Economic Growth and Sustain-
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Aug 30, 2018 · Art in public spaces plays a distinguishing role in our country’s history and culture. It reflects and reveals our society, enhances meaning in our civic spaces, and adds uniqueness to our communities.
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Aug 4, 2021 · As early as 2002, art historian Miwon Kwon made the perceptive observation that three “paradigms” may synthesize the evolutionary arch of public art since the 1960s: the art-in-public-places exemplified by nonfigurative modernist sculptures; the art-as-public-spaces approach typified by design-oriented sculpture serving as street furniture ...
