Public Art Research Paper

For my public art paper I chose a massive temporary sculpture, Big Bling, made by Martin Puryear located in the heart of Madison Square Park on 23 Street between 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue. The American sculptor, Martin Puryear, has created a marvelous sculpture that with the help of the Madison Square Park Conservancy have placed it in the park with a fence around it for everyone to observe. The sculpture is made out of wood pieces that form a ladder on the inside. It even contains a big ear-shaped empty space in between with a big, thick golden shackle at the top. I chose this work for my public art project because I am a fan of abstract art and because of its size and the mix of materials used like wood and gold. This public artwork …show more content…
Mad. Sq. Art is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.” Therefore, Puryear’s art is recognized, rewarded and supported because the government wants people to enjoy art and beautify the city with art. The use of wood by Puryear in his sculpture is his signature material because according, to Victoria L. Valentine, author of the article “Martin Puryear Appreciates the Dichotomy of ‘Big Bling,’ His Largest Sculpture to …show more content…
A young boy with a black Nike backpack and a basketball said that the sculpture should be in the park all the time because it looks like an elephant and it belongs in the wild surrounded by trees not in a museum. Similarly, a girl with a gray jacket said that this artwork is nothing like she has ever seen and that it is unique because of its form of an elephant with a nose ring. Others, like a young lady with a dark green jacket and a brown cross body purse said the sculpture looked like a rollercoaster or like an ox and that it made her feel like “I can achieve big things but for that I have to start from the bottom and you see that gold thing is like your goal to achieve big things.” A couple passed by after taking a picture of the sculpture and shared their different views on their artwork. The man said that it looks good in the park because people do not have to go to museums to see art, but the downside to it is that you cannot touch it. While the woman said she feels delighted because when you pass by it, “it makes me feel like anything is possible because of the golden shackle at the top that is like the prize or fortune you gain at the end of your journey.”A young lady with a red coat and a white scarf was sitting on the bench and said that the empty