Art ... they say
I think it's worth mentioning since I remember seeing this brought up in a couple of discussions over the past few weeks, but those artistic bus shelters didn't cost the local government any additional money outside of the normal costs. The Athens Area Art Council raised $4,000 per shelter to cover the additional costs, making this an effective public-private partnership.
Of course, I think that school bus thing is hideous. I thought it was a broken-down car the first few times I drove by it, but that's just me.
Of course, I think that school bus thing is hideous. I thought it was a broken-down car the first few times I drove by it, but that's just me.
posted by Jmac at 2:19 PM
8 Comments:
If they really didn't cost the general fund of ACC any money, then I really don't have a strong preference of them. They are really not my cup of tea and I don't think they will encourage me to want to ride the bus. But I really do like the recycled rails one on Baxter Street and my wife likes the futurist look of the one on Alps.
My 2 1/2 year old agrees with you JMac and points out the broken bus each time we drive base the Broad Street one.
I like that one just fine, actually. My question on the ABH: WTF were they thinking running that Op-Ed on rails with no context?
Thank you, thank you, for agreeing with me about the bus. I've been holding my tongue, but DAMN! That is the ugliest thing I have seen. If I managed that Applebees, I'd be a little aggravated (but they may have helped pick it, who knows). It looks like a pile of junk, and I find it very distracting as I drive.
The sleek ones on Alps and Baxter are pretty nice though, but more "futuristic" than "artsy" imo.
I'm glad others agree - I have yet to meet one person that thought the bus looked good. I was surprised by the paper's write-up, as I've heard it universally panned.
I like the bus. So there's your one.
Duly noted. I stand corrected.
D
I'd like to add, too, that "it's not art 'cause I don't like it" is not the way to view anything.
a) no one's an arbiter of style. b)people who've thought that they were have often sought to ban art based on their own tastes.
“no one's an arbiter of style.”
I agree with this but it is easier to preach it than practice it. I mean, let’s face it, there are some types of art that we as a community will fund and others we try to regulate. Look at things like “preserving” the front of the Gamma Phi Beta house or design standards on Prince avenue. We want buildings to fit in to their surroundings for sure but only unless we don’t want them to fit in like that giant Lego on Mitchell bridge road or a purple polka dot house.
We are not preserving downtown buildings for their efficiency and advantageous cost of maintenance. And before you saddle up, I rent in one of Athens oldest building and very much enjoy it. I like the style but I know plenty of people who couldn’t give a shit. Yet my building and many others are thankfully preserved because our leaders appreciate the style of this old building.
I appreciate the spirit, but the people in power are very much the arbiters of style. To pretend otherwise is fun, but also naive.
"people who've thought that they were have often sought to ban art based on their own tastes."
Very right. And their tastes is typically consumed with "the painter of light."
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