public art

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What is public art?

-- Mellissa Jayne Tappenden (Meljt_love1@hotmail.com), April 18, 2003

Answers

Could an answer be based in our economically driven times on exchange. Traditionally art became an exchange between artist and (wealthy) patron. When modern art rallied against commerce it came off the walls and out of the white cube. An exchange developed between the public artist and community which today is most likely still mediated by commerce to varying degrees. In a sense though the community becomes complicit with the powerful decision makers by allowing public artists to speak for them in equally powerful ways. Art in the right place can celebrate, commemerate, and protest in a significant way and be a valuable exchange for all.

-- memberofthepublic (expandedart@bigpond.com.au), April 27, 2003.

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