Visual Art We Shall Have Fighter Jets
posted by June 17 at 17:49 PM
onI couldn’t make it to the public forum last week about Mike Ross’s controversial proposal to install a fighter-jet sculpture on Capitol Hill.
But Seattle artist Ellen Forney was there, and this is what she had to say about it:
It went really well—CHAC’s Lower Level was SRO (!for a public art forum!)—and most of the audience stayed until about 8 (the meeting was scheduled to end at 7:30, and anyone who wanted an un-awkward exit was given the chance). It was a thoughtful discussion, and most people were thumbs-up. (Yay!)
Forney also has work going up in the same Sound Transit station where Ross’s pink jets will be. Here’s an image of her proposal, and go here to her blog for more images, including video.
Comments
The Forney pieces are vastly superior to the jets.
If only Clay Bennett would buy this, er, stuff, and move it to OKC.
$ale$ tax to $upport arti$t$ = da bomb!!
Let'$ pay for public artwork$ at every bu$ $top and every $treet corner, too!
what'$ the co$t, only 1% of a 3 or 4 billion$ project -- quite a rea$onable $um!
I gag as I say this but I kind of agree with PC.
Why are we being taxed millions of dollars for art that 90% of transit riders will never look at or appreciate?
I'm all for art; mostly the kind you find at the Getty, the Louvre, and the Hard Rock Cafe.
However, art that I have to look straight up at as I ride the escalator to Hell does not appeal to me (and as someone who rides a wheelchair and will be riding the pee stenched elevator) I will not get the benefit of said art.
Therefor, as a disabled-American, I do not want the tax dollars I don't have to pay to go for art in the subway stations.
#3, do you try to mislead people on purpose? It's sad how consistently wrong you are.
The budget for the entire University Link is $1.5 billion. Half of it comes from a federal grant, ie not sales tax.
The 1% is applied to construction costs, excluding tunneling costs.
One percent of your $3 billion figure is $30 million. Back in reality, the art budget for the Capitol Hill station is $550,000.
Sorry, elswinger...but it doesn't work like that.
You don't get to only pay for the things you want to pay for... You don't get to only pay for the things you'll get use out of... You don't even get to only pay for things that you approve of...
Public art is one of those things that those who we have elected previously have, in decided is important and an element of the provided general good that government is entrusted to deliver.
It's one of the benefits of a representative democracy--giving everyone good things, whether or not each individual approves.
Of course, it is also up to our representative democracy that you get what you need and, in general, the things that you want...or you'll work to vote in people who will change things more in line with your tastes.
But, for now, we happen to live in an area where our elected officials happen to value the arts...and hooray for us now!
Relax 4&5 - this money comes from the eastside car owners and MSFT sales tax-payers. Their surplus is covering the $16m for the U-Link art.
Further...
Unless you want a completely bland transit station with concrete walls and floors, I wouldn't bitch too much about the art budget.
Art funding is basically required by Federal Transit. They say the minimum should be half of 1%. Sound Transit likely doubles that number to seem more appealing for FTA grants.
Is public art really that offensive?
It looks great. I wish it would get built faster.
excited to get to see it in year 2016...only eight years away. but all snarkiness aside, the kissing fighter jets look amazing; if they turn out half as good as they looked in the little video i'll be elated
Light rail construction is well under way! Soon the airport will get service, with Air-Conditioned vehicles. The headways will be minimal (rapid arrivals and departures). The cost will be dirt cheap! No other major West Coast metro region will goof on us anymore. Ride the wave.
Fuck it. I love Forney's work and the jets too. I'd rather have a cool and interesting city filled with public art. Take away money from the sports stadiums and give it to artists.
Fuck yeah.
I'm disappointed not to see her finger-in-the-hole fuck gesture, though. It's my favorite Seattle art piece of the past forty years or so.
Move to the Soviet Union PC you boring fuck stain. At least go find something legitimate to bitch about. Seattle's 1% for the arts program has become a model for the whole nation and without it the world would be much more bland...
As long as the art continues to look like art in 5-10 years, and not like trash that the city has neglected to clean up, I am all for it.
$30 million could put in some awesome overhead and at-level biomes - from elevated fish tanks to gardens, wetlands and tide pools.
That's non-controversial local art that's dynamic and immerse. The only downside: maintenance.
I'm still less than impressed with the ugly pink cut-up jet sections, but Ellen Forney's stuff looks great. I just wish there were some Big Fuckin' Hands in the station.
I like the jets and the Ellen Forneys... Far and away better than most of our public art.
Ellen Forney sooooo deserves the status of Seattle icon, if she's not there already. Yay to her rightful graphical place in the Cap Hill ST station!
Decision to use Ellen Forney's art: A
Decision to use lazy-ass, poorly conceived, dully executed and not very appropriate art for the location it's meant from non-local artist: F
Those hands could be interpreted as doing a secret Hezbollah terrorist handshake! =P
The Capitol Hill Seattle blog is "doing a quick 'show of hands' to see what CHS readers think about the jet art proposed for the Capitol Hill light rail station. Let us know where you stand in the CHS light rail jet art survey. Survey closes Wednesday June 18th at 8p."
http://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2008/06/17/one-more-day-for-chs-jet-art-survey
Ellen Forney's and Mike Ross's artwork is amazing! I can't wait for the station and artwork to be finished. I saw them do their demo of their artwork - and they are such talented creative people. I'm proud to live in such a rich and diverse area as Puget Sound. Ride the WAVE!
I know I have no say in how tax money is spent. I am a registered-voter of 26 years after all. I just with as a voter I would have some say over what art the city/county/state buys. I stress the word WISH.
Of the two, I prefer the planes, but I would like to see 5-10 other ideas and get to vote on which one I like best, and majority rules.
I'd like to see us use just one half per cent on "art" and use the other half per cent on not putting ugly advertisements over those lovely blue waves on the buses.
@ comment 15
great piece of ignorance Fnarf:
Subway stations throughout the former USSR are renound for their unique artwork and craftsmanship. It's system's like DC that are know for their soviet uniformity.
@ comment 15
great piece of ignorance Fnarf:
Subway stations throughout the former USSR are renound for their unique artwork and craftsmanship. It's system's like DC that are know for their soviet uniformity.
I was at the same meeting and I remember most of the discussion was on the pink jets. I don't think people realize that military jets and work from a artist known for "fucking hands" graphic just might be a bit offensive to some in the public?
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