So, you might love them or you might hate them. Public art installations, that is. They’re typically scattered around the grounds of large buildings and campuses such as Universities. And depending on your point of view, they might serve any number of purposes: everything from recognizing the work of the artist, to celebrating an event such as an anniversary (centennials are quite common), or nothing at all if you’re not a fan of outdoor art installations!
Pieces of public art might be sculptures of the people who represent something; others might be abstract so as to allow you to conjure up your own images of what the piece might represent about the person, place or thing. Regardless of the type, pieces of public art remain constant– the’re fixed installations that aren’t going anywhere come hail or snow or shine.
And then there are other types of public art that serve to communicate an idea but only for a short while. The message might change every month or even every week. Take this big rock, for example. Situated right in the middle of campus, it bears the logo or message of some student organization or cause, and this may not be the same one that you’d find tomorrow.
There’s something to be said for both the beauty and utility of these two pieces of public art. They might represent two completely different causes, but unlike the changing landscape around them through the four seasons, they remain in their place even as everything else continues to change and morph, and perhaps even eventually disappear from sight. The seasons change; the people come and go; but these public art objects remain standing in place. Boldly making a statement or conveying an idea for the ages to come.
The show must indeed go on!
