From the beginning of the semester until now, we have focused on the purpose of public art and the concept of sustainability. We see public art all over the place, whether in cities, on highways, or in local establishments. After all, that is why we call it ‘public’ art; however, before this unit, I don’t think I fully grasped the depth and purpose of public art. Art is often entertaining and intriguing, but something I have learned is that art almost always serves as a form of communication. Through much of the art we have analyzed this semester, the messages being communicated to us have advocated for the idea of sustainability, and through our own work, we have been able to exercise this ability to communicate something with our audience. We have seen that public art is a powerful and empowering tool.
Sustainability refers to the ability to meet the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet the needs of their own. (Grant). When we think of this concept, we often think about environmental and ecological sustainability, yet there are two other important facets we forget. Sustainability comprises of three parts: economic, environmental, and social sustainability. The public art we have viewed so far this semester has pretty solidly touched on each of these parts. We first learned about a public art project that jumpstarted public and scientific interest in the process of phytoremediation, a process where soil is remediated through strategic planting of trees and plant-life. We discussed the use of public gardens and neighborhood art, and we learned about various public art projects including: Project Row Houses, The Green Bronx Machine, and Mobile Print Power. Through the analysis of each of these projects, I have learned that there is a deep interconnectedness between public art and the concept of sustainability.
Though much of the work we have viewed has focused on sustainability, there is more to public art than the communication of a subject or concept. Public art is empowering, thought provoking, and engaging. Project Row Houses, The Green Bronx Machine, and the work of Mobile Print Power demonstrate the power of public art. A priority of Project Row Houses is to engage its community and “Cultivate independent change agents and focus art and creativity as well as the general well-being and wealth building of the residents in our community.” (Project Row Houses). The goals of The Green Bronx Machine, and Mobile Print Power are both very similar in that they both aim to empower and engage communities in need of such empowerment economically, socially, and in many ways, environmentally. I have also learned through my own work on public art proposals that public art is powerful and complex. I get excited thinking about all of the ways I can communicate what I’m feeling and thinking through these proposals. I also see that, again, public art can be very closely related to the concepts of sustainability.
Public art is everywhere, whether it has been commissioned, organized, or created unintentionally. Public art is, perhaps, the most engaging and most empowering form art can take, as it allows for the communication of concepts to a forever expanding audience. Through the course of this unit, I have learned that all public artworks convey at least some of the aspects of sustainability whether they be economic, environmental or social. Public art is a powerful and empowering tool, and because of this, it inherently embodies the key concepts of sustainability.
David's Blog 