Community Involvement in Public Art: an Overview
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Order Number 1359863 Community involvemant in public art: An overview and two models, Arts on the Line and Arts in Transit Mineo, Jean R., M.A. The American University, 1994 Copyright ©1994 by Mineo, Jean R. All rights reserved. UMI 300 N. Zccb Rd. Ann Arbor, MI 48106 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with with permission permission of the of copyright the copyright owner. owner.Further reproductionFurther reproduction prohibited without prohibited permission. without permission. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN PUBLIC ART: AN OVERVIEW AND TWO MODELS, ARTS ON THE LINE AND ARTS IN TRANSIT by Jean R. Mineo submitted to the Faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences of The American University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in Performing Arts: Arts Management Signatures of the Committee: Chair: I& D - /7l C l — 7 the College Date 1994 The American University IbZo Washington, D.C. 20016 THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. © COPYRIGHT by JEAN R. MINEO 1994 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN PUBLIC ART: AN OVERVIEW AND TWO MODELS, ARTS ON THE LINE AND ARTS IN TRANSIT BY Jean R. Mineo ABSTRACT Since the mid-1960s, there has been a proliferation of works of art in public places. These art works become significant to the public when the content of the art works is relevant to the site and the local audience. Public art programs are developing productive ways to involve local citizens, producing new partnerships. As a result, art programs can assist in a variety of community development efforts to address growing social concerns. An examination of two case studies, Arts on the Line and Arts in Transit, reveals that public art programs can be vehicles for individuals to improve personal skills. The author finds that a two-tiered artist selection process can be effective when community representatives help create and implement the projects. Increased community involvement does not, however, ensure that the installed art works will be consistent with community requirements. A number of ii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. recommendations are made to improve future public art projects and to enrich community participants' experiences. iii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to acknowledge the many professionals and friends who willingly volunteered their time to this thesis. I would especially like to thank Jennifer Dowley, former Program Administrator for Arts on the Line, and Pamela Worden, President of UrbanArts, for generously sharing their thoughts and original project documentation with me. Your achievements in the face of numerous obstacles are inspiring. This thesis would not have been possible without the dedication of my advisors, Dr. Naima Prevots, Valerie Morris and Susie Erenrich. I am especially grateful for your insights and editorial comments, from which I have learned a great deal. There are a number of colleagues and friends whose consistent support, wisdom and encouragement, has touched my life in ways too numerous to mention. My thanks to Suzanne and Scott Braman, Monica Cheslak, Patricia Cook, Christin Heighway, Kris Knight, Gillian Finley, and Marla Strickland. You have made Washington feel like home. Next, I would like to publicly thank my family for their emotional and financial support during the last two years, and always: Lou Masella, for constantly demonstrating iv Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. understanding, confidence and incredible patience; Bonnie Mineo, for teaching me that one person can make a difference; Kelly McClintock, for showing me the value of being able to argue both sides of an issue; and, John and Martha Mineo, for showing me that working for personal fulfillment has its own rewards. I deeply appreciate your faith in me, and hope that I can be as generous in sharing these gifts with others, as you have been with me. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT .............................................. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ..................................... iv CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION ....................................... 1 II. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN PUBLIC ART ........... 13 III. THE ARTS AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ............... 31 IV. ART IN RAPID TRANSIT STATIONS .................... 53 V. THE RED LINE NORTHWEST EXTENSION: ARTS ON THE LINE ........................................ 59 VI. ARTS IN TRANSIT: THE SOUTHWEST CORRIDOR PROJECT .......................................... 80 VII. C O N C L U S I O N .........................................107 BIBLIOGRAPHY .......................................... 117 vi Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION Since the mid-1960's establishment of both the National Endowment for the Arts' Art in Public Places program and the General Services Administration's Art in Architecture Program, there has been a proliferation of works of art in public places. Through artists' residencies, art projects have been developed in conjunction with schools and hospitals.' Since 1974, Federal properties have received over 165 art pieces.2 Shopping malls often include fountains, and many buildings across America are decorated with murals. A number of streets incorporate artistic designs on manhole covers, park benches and sidewalks.1 Arts administrators have acquired 'Malcolm Miles, Art for Public Places: critical essays (Winchester, Hampshire UK: Winchester School of Art Press, 1989), 149. 2General Services Administration Art in Architecture Program, "Art Work Installations" alphabetical listing by artist, Washington, DC, 4 October 1993. ■'For an extensive review of objects, materials and locales in America, see Ronald Lee Fleming and Renata von Tscharner-Fleming, Placemakers: Creating Public Art that Tells You Where You Are (Boston: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1987). 1 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 2 expertise and are advising clients, while books covering issues in public art are increasing. Unfortunately, public art projects are rarely subjected to an examination of whether they accomplish their goals beyond the initial installation. Artist Suzanne Lacy notes that artists and critics discuss art in public places in terms of visual appeal or beauty "with community involvement evaluated as an appendage of, rather than integral to, the critique."4 Lacy contends that the process of preparing and exhibiting a work, and the context of how a work is situated within a community, is as important as aesthetic considerations in evaluating public art. Lacy argues that "Considering process and context as aspects of the actual work does not eliminate discussion of its aesthetic impact, but simply returns to it a fullness of expression implied in the term 'public art.'"5 This thesis addresses the public nature of two art projects by describing community involvement in the commissioning processes administered by two community art agencies, for mass transportation facilities in the Boston area. The collaborative process can open up dialogue, organize people and neighborhoods around community issues