Tuck, Public art can indeed be enriching — if it's good art. However, I should think we've all seen examples of ugly, unimaginative so-called "art" which does nothing to enhance anyone's life, except, perhaps, that of the artist who was paid to produce it. About fifty miles from where I live there's a place called Glenkiln where a benevolent and wealthy landowner once decided to place various works by Henry Moore, Rodin and Jacob Epstein. It was a wonderful, daring idea, and yes, the sculptures undoubtedly enhance and complement the landscape. See: http://www.sw-images-scotland.co.uk/portfolio_category.asp?cat=79 Glenkiln is completely open to the public. However, that has its hazards: some years ago an idiot took a chainsaw to Henry Moore's "King and Queen" sculpture and decapitated the figures, though they've since been repaired. I'm also very keen on Andy Goldsworthy who creates objects that almost seem to grow out of the landscape. Sometimes they're ephemeral, such as those made of leaves or ice, and sometimes more lasting, made of wood or stone. Examples here: http://tinyurl.com/25mx4w So public sculpture in Orkney: yes, if it's good but no, if it's bad. I hate the idea of representational sculptural figures of St Magnus or the Earls of Orkney, though. They sound dreadfully like tourist tat. I'm not particularly keen on the sort of art that serves to promote the powerful and famous anyway. Example of Orcadian public sculpture: http://www.johnrudge.f2s.com/images/nonsite/whalebone.jpg I'm sure Charles has much better pictures of that, though. I'd guess the one on this page is his: http://www.orkneytourism.co.uk/mainland/birsay.htm Norman Tulloch
On Oct 2, 2007, at 3:48 AM, Norman Tulloch wrote: > Tuck, > > Public art can indeed be enriching — if it's good art. However, I > should > think we've all seen examples of ugly, unimaginative so-called "art" > which does nothing to enhance anyone's life, except, perhaps, that of > the artist who was paid to produce it. > > About fifty miles from where I live there's a place called Glenkiln > where a benevolent and wealthy landowner once decided to place various > works by Henry Moore, Rodin and Jacob Epstein. It was a wonderful, > daring idea, and yes, the sculptures undoubtedly enhance and > complement > the landscape. See: > http://www.sw-images-scotland.co.uk/portfolio_category.asp?cat=79 > > Glenkiln is completely open to the public. However, that has its > hazards: some years ago an idiot took a chainsaw to Henry Moore's > "King > and Queen" sculpture and decapitated the figures, though they've since > been repaired. > > I'm also very keen on Andy Goldsworthy who creates objects that almost > seem to grow out of the landscape. Sometimes they're ephemeral, > such as > those made of leaves or ice, and sometimes more lasting, made of > wood or > stone. Examples here: > http://tinyurl.com/25mx4w > > So public sculpture in Orkney: yes, if it's good but no, if it's > bad. I > hate the idea of representational sculptural figures of St Magnus > or the > Earls of Orkney, though. They sound dreadfully like tourist tat. > I'm not > particularly keen on the sort of art that serves to promote the > powerful > and famous anyway. > > Example of Orcadian public sculpture: > http://www.johnrudge.f2s.com/images/nonsite/whalebone.jpg > > I'm sure Charles has much better pictures of that, though. I'd > guess the > one on this page is his: > http://www.orkneytourism.co.uk/mainland/birsay.htm > > Norman Tulloch Norman, I couldn't agree more about the quality of public art. All too often the determining factor is the availability of money, and an artist of less than highest quality is chosen. T he result can be horrendous, and the real problem is the horror can be permanent. But by the same token a work of real inspiration wedded to great skill and experience can be a delight and joy for the ages, and, once placed, folks cannot imagine living without it. > I just heard that, at Glenkiln, where the Henry Moore sculptures are placed, there is one rather near the road - a reclining figure. Because it does not require extensive hiking to find, as the others do, it is vulnerable to theft by the bronze vultures. It has, sadly but necessarily, been replaced by a glass fibre replica to thwart the thieves. Fortunately in Orkney that would not be a problem, since getting a sawn off bronze off the island would be nearly impossible. Orkney is a very special place, as all on this link would surely agree, and any placement of public art would have to be undertaken with extreme care and sensitivity. Like so many places it consists of urban and rural areas, and the two are very different. A work which would be most appropriate in town would probably be most inappropriate on the hills or shore, and vice versa. Not wanting a figure of Magnus or others is a valid opinion, but I must comment on the question of lack of authenticity eliminating consideration of such a work. There is not one word in the Bible concerning the physical appearance of Jesus, Mary, Peter, the Evangelists, or any others who have been depicted literally millions of times. In fact it is artists who tell us what they might have looked like - utterly without foundation. Consider how many people have a deep seated image of God based on Michelangelo's awe inspiring figure reaching out to Adam. In the church in New York where my wife and I were married there was a controversial painting of Jesus - members felt he looked "too Jewish." As for an image of Magnus on the site of his martyrdom, I can't see this as promoting the powerful and famous, but rather an homage to the patron saint of the Islands. Just my opinion. Tuck If anyone wants to view a few of my works, try Gobronze.org, or Nationalsculpture.org. In each case click on Sculptors, and then find my name and click. > > > > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA- > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message
Like you, Norman, I have a preference for the more "natural" type of sculpture and art, and I think the landscape of ORkney lends itself to that more so than the traditional "figure" art. But I appreciate that my preference is very subjective and others have different views. There is proposed re-development (along conservation lines) of the Stromness Town "centre" and it would be great to think that there would be space within it for some outdoor public art of some description that is chosen by the people of Stromness. Public consultation has been and will continue to be sought for all proposed development so there should be the opportunity for folk to raise the idea of public art. There is a plethora of "indoor" art around Orkney, in civic buildings as well as commercial premises too, and indoor public areas. Not sure why the "outdoor" form hasn't been represented so much - maybe because of the weather! People hurry indoors and prefer to appreciate the art in some comfort! :-) Sian ----- Original Message ----- From: "Norman Tulloch" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2007 8:48 AM Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] public sculpture So public sculpture in Orkney: yes, if it's good but no, if it's bad. I hate the idea of representational sculptural figures of St Magnus or the Earls of Orkney, though. They sound dreadfully like tourist tat. I'm not particularly keen on the sort of art that serves to promote the powerful and famous anyway. Example of Orcadian public sculpture: http://www.johnrudge.f2s.com/images/nonsite/whalebone.jpg I'm sure Charles has much better pictures of that, though. I'd guess the one on this page is his: http://www.orkneytourism.co.uk/mainland/birsay.htm Norman Tulloch _______________________________________ Orcadia Group Photo Album http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message