So what now? (At the Capitol Plaza, 9/03, Courtesy of S. Gilbert)
It didn't have to be this way for the Heizer sculpture. Its problem was that the community didn't adopt it. A group of people committed to the statue could have drummed up publicity, helped raise money for maintenence, maybe even saved it from the rages of Engler's "Plunder Michigan" campaign.
Building a community around a sculpture is the single most important factor in its "life." For example, at MSU, "The Spartan" sculpture is rumored to be the largest free standing ceramic sculpture. Unfortunately, being glazed terra cotta, he doesn't fare very well in Michigan winters. However, since "Sparty" is so well loved by a sizeable number of students, staff, faculty, and alumni, he is the recipient of a lot of donations. Let's just say it's enough for his yearly jock lift and Claytox injections.
A public sculpture can even win converts. Perhaps the most successful example of an NEA project was the placement of Alexander Calder's "La Grande Vitesse" over in Grand Rapids in 1969. The sculpture was at first an object of derision from locals. (My mom, who was a resident back in the day, seems to remember talk of people bringing their shotguns to Vandenburg Plaza to prevent the placement.) The city administration, realizing they had a world class sculpture in their midst, decided to literally adopt "La Grande Vitesse" as their city icon. The new icon design incorporated the red squiggle of the statue and a blue river running underneath against a yellow background. They plastered this design everywhere - city street signs, garbage trucks, city letterhead, etc. Attitudes toward the sculpture began to soften. Eventually, it became a point of pride for the entire city.
Back in Lansing, we never got a chance to change our minds. The sculpture seemed to disappear into the background after Milliken left office. After Engler disbanded the independent Arts Council in 1989, there was no one left to act on its behalf.
I remember the only time I saw "This Equals That." It was in 2000, when I was touring the Capitol with some relatives. Our tour guide told us that we could get to the Historical Museum through the back door and crossing a couple of pedestrian bridges. As we crossed the first bridge, we saw the rust-colored shapes looming in the courtyard. As we walked past them, I noticed the cracks and holes in the sculpture. I wondered to myself, "Who put this silly piece of Process Art here?" What I wouldn't learn until later was how it was left to die a slow, quiet death.
So if there's a sculpture you like in your hometown, rally around it. Seek out other people to help you share it with visitors. Keep it safe and standing. Future art lovers are depending on you.
10:35:48 PM 
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