Art?

[PALADIN85020]

One of the endearing features about America is that freedom of expression is not only tolerated, but encouraged. Sometimes that characteristic really pushes the envelope - most often in the artistic world. In getting out and about, I encounter many examples of this in the strangest places. Here are but two examples.

The first of the two was spotted on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe. I'm not sure what this is, or what it is purported to represent. I'm also not sure why money was spent on it or why benches were placed for people to sit and admire it. I did notice that no one was sitting and admiring it.

Another view of expressionistic "art" was found on a recent trip to one of my favorite getaway places, Bisbee, Arizona. Not too far up Brewery Gulch, there is a tin construction barrier that some graffiti artist thought was too plain. He/she solved that with this painting. Actually, I thought it was rather striking in a bizarre sort of way. I'd like to see the psychiatrist's file on this individual...

I suppose art is in the eye of the beholder, and with few exceptions, anything goes. What do YOU think of these two examples?

John

 

[Krell1]

Pure ****!!!!!!

 

[Waywatcher]

I like the second one more than the first. I really enjoy art like that that didn't have someone's approval. It has a certain guerrilla quality and sentiment that I appreciate.

As a general rule, people take everything too seriously in life and I like anything that thumbs its nose at People To Be Taken Seriously.

 

[steelslaver]

One of my brothers has a masters in Fine Arts. He is also well educated in ceramics, both for art and industrial purposes. The city of Missoula MT near where he lives and was educated at the U of M wanted an art piece for a turn around in the downtown area. He submitted he idea and came in second. The winner was 4 large red Xs and connected. Dumb as can be and usually referred to by locals as the tank trap. He was smoked. I often comment on the wonder of it all. LOL Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and even more often in the case of these objects who is best associated with those who control the purse strings.

 

[diamonback68]

The Tempe one looks like a satellite dish having an abortion.

 

[Marshwheeling]

I once got a letter from the city where I live telling me to get rid of the junk in my yard. Fair enough, I thought, I do have some junk here. I got a 10 yard dumpster and filled it up to be hauled away. I wrote the city back: "The junk has been removed. Everything remaining is sculpture."

 

[Stevens]

Don't you remember this from a few years ago your tax dollars at work!

Pi$$ Christ is a 1987 photograph by the American artist and photographer Andres Serrano. It depicts a small plastic crucifix submerged in a glass of the artist's urine. The piece was a winner of the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art's "Awards in the Visual Arts" competition,[1] which was sponsored in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, a United States Government agency that offers support and funding for artistic projects, without controlling content.

They say "art is in the eye of the beholder" I'd like to pour some of that "art" into the eye of the "artist" Serrano
Steve W

 

[gaucho1]

CARNEY..........................................

 

[therevjay]

I didn't much care for it. But some people did. A Army buddy who was also a artist, told me. "If you enjoy looking at it, it's art '' I guess that's a fairly good definition.

 

[427mach1]

When I was in college, some students piled a bunch of scrap metal on a small rise between two dorms. Within a few weeks, the ground crews had installed a border and were mowing around the new "sculpture".

 

[Pop's2]

you can find "art" in most cities

If you like it or not or would buy it is optional

Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

 

[THE PILGRIM]

I can tolerate 'art' a lot better when it's not paid for by the taxpayers.
We got the taxpayer deluxe statue here in Albuquerque named Chevy on a Stick.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Sculpture looks like a turtle being mounted by a parrot.

 

[clipper1]

Each to his own poopie taste. It is said that art is good if it arouses any emotional feelings. For me, those feelings not so good, LOL!

 

[Iggy]

It really hacks me off when the mayor or whomever buys "art" his cousin couldn't unload and has the city display in some park in town.
Dang near brings out the vandal in me.

 

[old bear]

What do YOU think of these two examples?

Well, both got me thinking, about what the artist was trying to convey, and that's a big part of what art is all about. I think?

I'm sure 50 years age people laughed at Andrew Calder (sp) work.

 

[shouldazagged]

I like both, but especially the painting. I can laugh at the sculpture.

On the other hand, from time to time I see commercials on the tube for "starving artists art sales". It's all too apparent why they are starving. Insipid stuff like you'd find in a really cheap motel.

I'm particularly fond of fine photography, and anyone who says it's not an art isn't paying attention.

 

[captorquewrench]

I like them...but they are not expressionism....which I LOVE!

 

[G-Mac]

Working in the welding trade almost all of my life, I've run into a few college-educated "artists" that fancied themselves as "steel sculptors".

A few observations....

#1 - Everything they did, to me, was what I'd call "scrap metal"...good for the scrap steel dumpster.

#2 - They are usually spoiled brats that come from well-to-do families...parents are doctors, business owners, etc. One "steel sculptor" that I hung out with, briefly, had his rent paid for by his parents and mommy would deliver groceries a couple times a week.

#3 - They don't take constructive criticism very well.

#4 - They're extremely moody.

#5 - They generally suck as welders.

 

[erics]

Yes, beauty is in the eye of the beer holder

 

[rwsmith]

I've seen....

I've seen some pretty wild free form sculpture that I liked but that's not one of them. I say "it lacks unity". Someone else will say, "This is meant to destroy the concept of unity"

The painting looks like something from 'Heavy Metal' magazine, but I can't knock it. Somebody likes it.

Who remembers the 'Tilted Arc' sculpture in the Federal plaza in Manhattan which was essentially a great wall of rusted iron. The city got sick of it and found enough support to take it down. It is in storage, but the artist says that it is 'site specific' and can't be displayed anywhere else.

Tilted Arc - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tell us. What do you think. Should the 'Tilted Arc' have stayed or been removed?

 

[jag312]

The Tilted Arc doesn't impress me. It is unfortunate that the so-called artist couldn't think of anything better. However, don't complain. Just think of what Yoko Ono would have done. On second thought, don't think of what Yoko Ono would have done unless you want terminal nightmares.