Bathtub art project gets Petaluma council blessing

[+ Avalon]

https://www.petaluma360.com/news/8542747-181/bathtub-art-project-gets-petaluma?artslide=0

 

I don't like it. Imo "modern art"is an oxymoron.

 

Should the government sponsor art? Isn't that something rich people should do?

 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

In my town the police department has a statue of a police officer holding the hand of a child and the fire department has a statue of a Dalmatian dog. That's pretty much it for public art.

[mike carey]

Art enriches us all, we should not need to rely on the munificence of some rich dudes to have it. Government isn't some entity that controls or assists us individually, it is a manifestation of us as a community. It provides facilities that collectively we need, it provides services that are part of the operation of a civilised society, or any society for that matter, although hunter-gatherers don't set up a government, they just do things together. Likewise with art. Public art enhances public spaces, it provides a focus for us as we walk around, like a public garden or park it gives us something to sit and contemplate. The ACT government used to have a 1% levy from development projects that it placed in a public art fund. It funded commissioned sculptures that have been placed around the city of Canberra. There were objections that eventually torpedoed the scheme, but since then developers have included public art in projects they built. When you consider the scale of the enterprises that our governments are, the cost of public art is chump change, if your county or city (like our local councils or the ACT government here) stopped funding any public art it would probably save you a dollar on your property taxes. Of course we still should encourage those rich dudes to fund more of it.

[YoungAD]

“Public opposition for the $150,000 project, which is funded by fees from developers...”

[mike carey]

“Public opposition for the $150,000 project, which is funded by fees from developers...”

Oh, yes, that will happen. There will be people who say that they should use that money from developers for [some other worthy thing].

[+ Avalon]

But what is art? Who decides? One person'a art is another person's garbage. Many many years ago I visited the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. I was on a bus tour. One exhibit was a step-ladder on a tarp. On the top of the ladder was an open can of red paint on its side. Red paint had spilled out.

 

That was enough for me! I left the museum and walked around until it was time for the bus to leave.

[mike carey]

But what is art? Who decides?

One thing is certain, whether you like it or not is not part of the definition of art. Nor is 'everyone likes it'. There are consensus views on what is art, but no single authority.

[Bearofdistinction]

https://www.petaluma360.com/news/8542747-181/bathtub-art-project-gets-petaluma?artslide=0

 

I don't like it. Imo "modern art"is an oxymoron.

 

Should the government sponsor art? Isn't that something rich people should do?

 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

In my town the police department has a statue of a police officer holding the hand of a child and the fire department has a statue of a Dalmatian dog. That's pretty much it for public art.

 

Yes the Govt should support the arts both public displays and arts education in public schools.

[+ Avalon]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petaluma,_California

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariano_Guadalupe_Vallejo

 

According to the city's history it was established by a man named Vallejo. Rather than bathtubs I prefer to see a statue erected to honor Vallejo.

 

I like statues. I like that in ancient Rome so many statues were put up. Here in the USA statues are being torn down.

[hairyhorny415]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petaluma,_California

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariano_Guadalupe_Vallejo

 

According to the city's history it was established by a man named Vallejo. Rather than bathtubs I prefer to see a statue erected to honor Vallejo.

 

I like statues. I like that in ancient Rome so many statues were put up. Here in the USA statues are being torn down.

 

Petaluma was part of land gifted to Vallejo by the Mexican Governor of CA at the time.

Twenty-seven years old at the time, the then-lieutenant was sent to settle and colonize Alta California, extending north from Monterey, to counter the presence of Russians who established Fort Ross on the Sonoma Coast.

Vallejo also was given title to a land grant known as the Rancho Petaluma, which would grow to 66,000 acres stretching from the Petaluma River to Sonoma Creek and help him become the richest and most powerful man in Northern California.

 

Vallejo already has a bronze statue erected in his honor (per Vallejo wikipedia article you linked).

https://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/7116618-181/general-vallejo-gets-his-own?artslide=1

 

Petaluma is a beautiful agricultural town and the city and residents will work out what works for them

 

I like modern art and don't understand all of it.

Too bad you didn't stay at the SFMOMA and look for things you might have enjoyed rather than just leave after seeing something you didn't like. I saw the ladder/tarp/paint and didn't really care for it either. For me, I concentrate on looking at the things I like and skip over the ones I don't care for.

 

SFMOMA had an extensive Frida Kahlo exhibit that ran for quite a while which was wonderful. They also exhibit a lot of famous photographers's works.Remember the old Branniff airplanes that were painted by Calder? Dallas Love Field? SFMOMA has had quite a bit of Calder's stuff on display. The rooftop garden also has an extensive sculpture garden.

 

Opinions about art are always diverse and open up dialogue. Thank for for posting about the bathtubs as I learned more about Northern California history today through the process of looking up facts.

 

I've lived in Northern California 30+ years and one of the things that keeps me here is the amazing and diverse artwork, architecture and infrastructure that supports it. Sonoma county has always held a special place in my heart.