Wednesday, October 08, 2003

Sculpture Wars: Part III: Adding It Up Capitol Plaza, September, 2003  (Photo Credit: S. Gilbert) So, what's going on here?  If we scratch a little under the surface, we'll uncover some interesting conflicts:   "Representational" art vs. "Non-representational" art:  This is a major part of the stories.  One might wonder what would have happened had the Heizer sculpture been representational, or had the Seward statues been non-represenational.  Most people seem to prefer art that looks like what they see.  They think that simply copying nature is artistic.  Why would this be?  Some might say the lack of art education is to blame.  Some might say the quashing of children’s creativity as they grow into adults.  Others might point to the influence of movies and television.  Still, others might say it’s a hangover of literacy.  Now, don’t get me wrong - I don’t hate representational work.  But all the best art - representational and non-representational alike - has some quality that makes it stand out.  I can’t explain it, but when you see it, something clicks inside your head, and you know.  It’s not a matter of taste necessarily, though I suppose that has something to do with it.  Maybe it’s better if I give you an example:  think of the difference between Goya and Kincade (I hate to use the same breath for them both).  They’re both realistic artists, but Goya sees with his eyes, his heart, his mind, and his soul.  Kincade sees with his bank account. "Elite" vs. "popular":  I’m sure that there are some people who saw the Heizer sculpture as some high-falutin', bank-account draining con job and the SAC as suckers.  I’m sure that there are people who enjoy the Seward sculptures because they have fixed meaning.  They prefer not having to think about it. Art vs. commerce:  This fits in with the two above categories.  There are those artists who are too high-minded to match their work to your couch color - and there are those that aren't.  There are plenty of artists who are willing to dumb down their work in order to sell.  There are also plenty of civic-minded organizations who are also willing to pander to the lowest common denominator to get foot traffic.  I think the Lansing PSD would have flesh-eating contests to draw customers. Cars vs. pedestrians:  The Seward exhibit is supposed to be a walking tour, but you can see most of them from the comfort of your car seat.  The Heizer sculpture, however, was not visible from the road.  It wasn't something you were likely to stumble on unless you were walking across the Plaza. I quite honestly wouldn't be surprised if there were a good number of Lansing residents who'd never heard of the sculpture.  Lansing is most assuredly a car town - hell, we build them here. 10:14:07 PM    comment []

© Copyright 2003 Jennifer Wood.