Statue on University?

[Observer Walt]

e: Statue on University

Van Gogh probably would have stood a good chance, but I wonder if Oscar Nemon would have? Or some 20-something newcomer without an established reputation, but with some talent? The art world is notoriously incestuous as already mentioned and has long had a reputation for not being much open to new ideas / personalities. A review committee is probably a good idea, but not if it is completely made up of artists.

As for "Gumby", while some obviously don't like it, others do, and maybe that's not bad for public art, which is supposed to provoke thought and discussion.

 

[building babel]

e:Statue on University

I understand that Toronto's public art review process has a cross section of people involved in vetting proposals. They post vacancies in the media once in a while. I only hope that rogue benefactors who "know what they like" and have the money to pay for their pet project don't still have some leverage. I know that the veterans monument that was planned for the north west corner of University and College was replaced by an open request for proposals a year or two ago, and I believe that something symbolic - rather than the usual figurative art - was the result, though I haven't heard what happens next.

The city consults lawyers for lawyerly things, medical officers of health for public health issues, and qualified architects and engineers to build things, so there is no reason why the artistic community should be treated with any less respect when it comes to public art, nor why the city should be denied their expertise.

 

[unimaginative2]

Re: e:Statue on University

The Queens Park war memorial is under construction. From what I can tell, it seems to be rather similar to the Vietnam Memorial.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

Re: e:Statue on University

If there is an example of what NOT to do in the area, it's the Firefighters Memorial. Kitschy bronze statues, ebony monolith taken straight out of 2001 and cheap coloured concrete makes for a throughly disgusting experience. Honestly, who designed that *thing*?

On the bright side, it's next to that equally gross TTC accessbile entrance "barn" for Queen's Park station.

AoD

 

[scarberiankhatru]

"On the bright side, it's next to that equally gross TTC accessbile entrance "barn" for Queen's Park station."

On the brighter side, it's so low to the ground that the "barn" and the shrubbery make it almost invisible.