Art and Creativity: Public ART... or Public Eyesore?

As someone who has spent much of their adult life in some form of art business, I will be the first to admit that art — and what constitutes "good" art — is pretty much in the eye of the beholder.

Someone came into the gallery today asking about the location of another store, and referenced "that THING down there; the big NUT," in their description.

The Big Nut, formally called "The Salish Sea"

The Dilemmas of Art in Public Spaces

What she was referring to was a piece of public sculpture here in Port Townsend, referred to as many by exactly that nickname: "The Big Nut." It sits in a waterfront park and seems to — as much as anything — serve as an attractor for gull poop.

In any case, the brief interaction we had made me consider the challenges and pitfalls of "Public" art, and how people respond to it.

So I decided to take a slightly longer way home, so I could drive past some of our public art.

As I did, I also found myself thinking about the many forms public art takes, and the challenge that must be inherent within the decision making that goes into choosing something that "represents" a community.

Aside from our "Big Nut," we also have a series of clay "art lumps" — clearly a series — along a couple of streets and a hiking trail. Strange monoliths that mostly seem to serve as places for local high school students to spray graffiti. 

Street Art

Not so far beyond the last of the clay monoliths I came to the "Veggie Van." 

It belongs to a local organic mini farm, and has been parked at the side of the road for as long as I can remember. Although it's in private ownership, it is definitely a (possibly inadvertent) form of street art.

The Veggie Van has become public street art...

It made me think of the colorful street art in my native Denmark, which is mostly graffiti raised to an art form, sometimes with the entire end of a building covered in what looks like very professionally done art.

There's a certain irony there: The art placed in public spaces by officialdom often enjoys less popularity than the art placed by the public in public spaces. 

The "Veggie Van" is quite a popular landmark... and yet? I'm pretty sure a great many "art experts" would look at it and declare it an eyesore. 

Ultimately, art is a fickle trade... and there's no accounting for taste.

Thank you for reading! Red Dragonfly is a proud member of the @sndbox creative initiative.

The Red Dragonfly is an independent alternative art gallery located in Port Townsend, WA; showcasing edgy and unique contemporary art & handmade crafts by local and worldwide artists. All images are our own, unless otherwise credited. Where applicable, artist images used with permission.