Facing the art
I take umbrage at Dr. Wilson’s diagnoses of our response as “acute inflammation followed by quiescence” (“Worlds Collide on Walls: Wall/Therapy”). Although I am no physician, I would be inclined to call the current status as “chronic indignation.” We understand that continued public comment is useless since the works are generally on private walls over which the city claims to have no authority, and some in the art community seem to think this is a very fine addition to our city.
I am hardly alone in my complaints about “Resting Bears.” I hear the subject raised by many others whenever the subject of art in Rochester comes up among our friends and acquaintances. The usual comment I get is “I drove by to see the ‘Rats,’ and I really think they are awful.” This usually results in a further outbreak of “inflammation” which eventually subsides once again into chronic indignation.
Once again I suggest that having a painting thrust into your home with no opportunity to chose is far different from choosing the art for yourself regardless of the subject matter. My wife and I have spent over 49 years choosing the artwork that adorns our walls. “Resting Bears” is hardly something we would have chosen, yet it is what we rise to every morning and it is in our face whenever we look to the north from our apartment window.
The residents in the neighborhood who gather in the World Wide News parking lot to escape their un-air-conditioned apartments across the street also have no great love of the painting. Welcome to life in downtown Rochester!
PAUL GOLDBERG
Race talk
Mary Anna Towler writes: “It’s also too big a stretch to think that Zimmerman would have thought Trayvon was suspicious if Trayvon were white” (“The Zimmerman Verdict,” Urban Journal). Excuse me? There are no white burglars in Ms. Towler’s universe?
http://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/rochester/the-zimmerman-verdict/Content?oid=2248846
WILLIAM RICKEY
Spelling lesson
I can’t decide which would be worse – that someone representing the Landmark Society would misspell the last name of the designer of Seneca Park, or that Rochester City Paper would make the error (HomeWork, July 10).
For future reference, please remember that the noted landscape architect and designer was Frederick Law Olmsted, not Olmstead. Even my e-mail program’s spell-checker knows the difference!
RUTH E. THALER-CARTER
The Landmark Society, which produces the HomeWork content, responds: Our HomeWork column reader is correct regarding the spelling of noted landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, designer of Rochester’s park system. This is a common mistake that Landmark Society staff frequently correct in others’ work. This time we made the mistake ourselves! Thanks for staying on top of us!
This article appears in Jul 24-30, 2013.
PAUL GOLDBERG – I certainly understand how you feel. Several times a week I have to drive by one or more of Alex Paley’s piles of rusting scrap metal which litter our landscape and which our city father’s were conned by self-appointed cultural mavens into accepting as “art”.
Then of course we have Tom “The Dog Killer” Otterness’ sculptures at the MAG which apparently are designed to teach children that no matter how socially deviant they become they can still find some museum director and board willing to pay big bucks for their creations.
Bravo to Paul Goldberg for standing up and speaking his truth about this Wall Art phenomenon, which immediately struck me and my wife – both of us cultural workers and art enthusiasts – as a highly questionable enterprise.
My wife said, ” Why are outsiders coming in and saying what people need to see on their walls? Who are these people, and did they ask anyone living there if they wanted it?” She pointed out that the photos suggested it was mostly white guys painting black women, which she characterized as bullshit, although that was clearly just a hunch.
I thought much of the art was too frenetic or self indulgent or just plain bad for anyone to live with on a regular and long-term basis. If I wanted to sound less judgmental, I’d just point out that even the best ones represent a very particular aesthetic that may appeal to a narrow contingent of self-appointed art champions but don’t seem likely to enhance life for a general public. They represent a private art aesthetic, something a few people might choose to look at but no one should be forced to see — public art needs to take public interest into consideration.
I can’t imagine many residents of nearby neighborhoods see them as an enhancement. I would hate to be accosted by them on a regular basis. Plain walls have so much more to offer. I say that as an artist who knows how much we ned public support for art, but we also need artistic respect for the public.
What arrogance to inflict this on an area and then insult the unfortunate residents when they object. What utter, self-congratualtory arrogance masquerading as public interest. And how very like, for example, the intusive and domineering US foreign policy that these same well-intentioned art pushers probably abhor.
Paul Goldberg, this is the second time you’ve expressed your dislike for the Wall Therapy program. (http://roccitynews.wordpress.com/2012/08/0…) Instead of belaboring your complaints you could find the good in the Wall Therapy program. Art is often meant to challenge preconceived notions. Perhaps take this opportunity to try to understand what the artist was going for in their murals?
Maybe take the “rat” mural as an opportunity to meet the building owner and ask why he chose to use that wall for painting?
Maybe use the art as a generational bridge to speak with your grandchildren? (I bet they might like it.)
…or you could continue to complain to a newspaper and feel better for venting frustrations on the public.
Either way, a quick twitter search suggests that your opinion regarding these murals is not the majority. I’m guessing you don’t use twitter, so here’s the link: https://twitter.com/search?q=%23walltherap…
I’m kinda shocked people think they are bears…if you look at the artist other pieces of work they look exactly like his rats….. but without a tail.
“Either way, a quick twitter search suggests that your opinion regarding these murals is not the majority. I’m guessing you don’t use twitter”
Zack – Not clear which point you’re trying to make. Is it the fact that some people are gullible enough to believe that the opinions expressed by the twits using Twitter are somehow representative of the opinions of society as a whole (or should that be “hole”?)…
…or is it that the same mentality that that considers Twitter to be an effective means of communication also can easily be conned into believing that crappy wall murals are “art”?
MJN-You’re putting words in my mouth. You’ve made your point that you don’t like the murals. I get it, just like Paul Goldberg doesn’t like them. My point is that the way you both express your opinions is self-serving and unproductive.
Odds are, the majority of people don’t care about the murals. They don’t upset them and they don’t make them feel inspired.
I’m not gonna engage your snark, but I will say there are places that require neighbors to approve what goes on on your own property. Most suburbs have some sort of regulations like that. Not saying you should leave Rochester–you both may actually be productive for the city in some ways–just trying to point out another option for something you actually have control over.
Zack – So let’s see. Your response to another poster …
“Either way, a quick twitter search suggests that your opinion regarding these murals is not the majority. I’m guessing you don’t use twitter.”
….was a clear statement that you believe that there’s a connection between not appreciating the murals and not using Twitter. I set out what I see as the connection and you disagreed. So pray tell, what IS the connection that you claim exists?
Wow.
I still have no idea what you’re talking about. That link was a search that showed people who were posting about the murals. (Again, here it is: https://twitter.com/search?q=%23walltherap…) I was not arguing about any link between anything. The vast majority of the comments were in support of the Wall Therapy program.
Your reading comprehension and leaps of logic are pretty funny.