Public art is a phenomenon that has existed in humanity for thousands of years. The very first example of this would be Lascaux Cave. In this cave, located in France, hundreds of paintings and engravings are be found (most of which are animals). These illustrations are dated back between 17,000-15,000 BCE (Ancient.eu). Public art has only continued to increase in numbers and variations, as we see murals, sculptures, statues, and many other forms everywhere throughout our daily lives. It has many purposes as well, some of which are in regards to race and society. Though public art may have its negative aspects, I believe it provides numerous and valuable benefits to society. It opposes racial boundaries and/or oppression by promoting a sense
…show more content…
It can do this in many ways, due to the many different purposes it has. In “Arts and Its Publics,” Harriet Senie writes a chapter titled “Reframing Public Art: Audience Use, Interpretation, and Appreciation.” Within this chapter, Senie writes about a study she conducted with students regarding public response to public art. When it came to using public art, she wrote: “they had no problem using it according to their needs or wants as a photo op, street ot playground furniture (depending on age), a place to hang notices, a meeting place or place maker, even a civic logo” (188). Pedestrians used public art for various reasons, ranging from things such as using them as backrests, rendezvous points, photo shoots, and more. Essentially, at these locations, there is a mixture of people of different races, all interacting with one another for some purpose. The area becomes a melting pot. Strangers may interact with one another because of a notice on the art, or perhaps just engage in dialogue regarding the art itself. Racial boundaries are dissolved, and a sense of community begins to …show more content…
It is similar to storytelling, as each piece of work has its own narrative. There are many historical artworks throughout the world, each with a distinct purpose. Some may commemorate specific people, while others deliver the local land’s history. Furthermore, a specific piece of artwork may educate the public about the experiences of a specific race and/or oppressed group. In her work “Public Art and the Promotion of Racial Equity,” Kristen Day gives an example of this: “For example, the ‘Alien Staff’ project, by artist Jagoda Przybylak, equipped several U.S. immigrants with custom-made walking sticks, or staffs (Finkelpearl, 2001). The staffs incorporated elements from individuals’ own life stories as immigrants” (Day 138) Many immigrants were given unique, personalized staffs, hence the name of the project, “Alien Staff.”. Each staff highlighted the difficulties and hardships their respective owners went through. These walking sticks were used by the immigrants to educate others on their stories. Through this, we can clearly see how public art provides education to the general public. Overall, artworks like this can help contribute to decrease bigotry, as well achieving racial harmony by narrating stories of the
It can do this in many ways, due to the many different purposes it has. In “Arts and Its Publics,” Harriet Senie writes a chapter titled “Reframing Public Art: Audience Use, Interpretation, and Appreciation.” Within this chapter, Senie writes about a study she conducted with students regarding public response to public art. When it came to using public art, she wrote: “they had no problem using it according to their needs or wants as a photo op, street ot playground furniture (depending on age), a place to hang notices, a meeting place or place maker, even a civic logo” (188). Pedestrians used public art for various reasons, ranging from things such as using them as backrests, rendezvous points, photo shoots, and more. Essentially, at these locations, there is a mixture of people of different races, all interacting with one another for some purpose. The area becomes a melting pot. Strangers may interact with one another because of a notice on the art, or perhaps just engage in dialogue regarding the art itself. Racial boundaries are dissolved, and a sense of community begins to …show more content…
It is similar to storytelling, as each piece of work has its own narrative. There are many historical artworks throughout the world, each with a distinct purpose. Some may commemorate specific people, while others deliver the local land’s history. Furthermore, a specific piece of artwork may educate the public about the experiences of a specific race and/or oppressed group. In her work “Public Art and the Promotion of Racial Equity,” Kristen Day gives an example of this: “For example, the ‘Alien Staff’ project, by artist Jagoda Przybylak, equipped several U.S. immigrants with custom-made walking sticks, or staffs (Finkelpearl, 2001). The staffs incorporated elements from individuals’ own life stories as immigrants” (Day 138) Many immigrants were given unique, personalized staffs, hence the name of the project, “Alien Staff.”. Each staff highlighted the difficulties and hardships their respective owners went through. These walking sticks were used by the immigrants to educate others on their stories. Through this, we can clearly see how public art provides education to the general public. Overall, artworks like this can help contribute to decrease bigotry, as well achieving racial harmony by narrating stories of the