Comments on: Denver Makes It Big http://untitled.denverartmuseum.org/size-matters/denver-makes-it-big/ The final Friday night of every month at the DAM feels less like a field trip and more like a night out. Expect food, music, film, performances, and art-inspired collaborative creations … all with a dose of the unexpected. Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:09:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.2 By: sbd http://untitled.denverartmuseum.org/size-matters/denver-makes-it-big/#comment-224 sbd Mon, 25 Jun 2007 16:17:38 +0000 http://untitled.denverartmuseum.org/size-matters/denver-makes-it-big/#comment-224 <p>On the way home to Denver from London, I read an article about a Brit's impression of the Arizona landscape. He wrote about how he had fallen in love with the colors of the desert and the vast sky. In a particularly memorable observation, he noted how it was probably no coincidence that the desert-based religions had centred upon one deity in the sky, rather than worshipping the earth's life-giving capacities in a number of forest and river based deities.</p> <p>What does this have to do with large-scale art in Denver? Denver, too, has the same vast sky, and so perhaps our art must reach into the sky to mesh with the landscape. Denver did not need a growth spurt for large-scale art to fit in here. But it may make large-scale art even more appealing.</p> <p>Housing developments appear like small dots on the freeways. They are unremarkable, blending into each other the more that they build. But large artworks tower over them.</p> <p>To be continued.</p> On the way home to Denver from London, I read an article about a Brit’s impression of the Arizona landscape. He wrote about how he had fallen in love with the colors of the desert and the vast sky. In a particularly memorable observation, he noted how it was probably no coincidence that the desert-based religions had centred upon one deity in the sky, rather than worshipping the earth’s life-giving capacities in a number of forest and river based deities.

What does this have to do with large-scale art in Denver? Denver, too, has the same vast sky, and so perhaps our art must reach into the sky to mesh with the landscape. Denver did not need a growth spurt for large-scale art to fit in here. But it may make large-scale art even more appealing.

Housing developments appear like small dots on the freeways. They are unremarkable, blending into each other the more that they build. But large artworks tower over them.

To be continued.

]]> By: mark http://untitled.denverartmuseum.org/size-matters/denver-makes-it-big/#comment-229 mark Wed, 15 Aug 2007 01:47:18 +0000 http://untitled.denverartmuseum.org/size-matters/denver-makes-it-big/#comment-229 <p>Nice little travel log about Arizona, but what's your point?</p> <p>What does aerial perspectives or urban sprawl have to do with the success of a city's public art. Why would the growth of a city make public art more appealing to its citizens? Is the logic, more people, more buildings, more art? How does public engagement correlate to an increased capacity? We're not talking about eye candy or decoration but how a community can benefit from public art and the potential it can provide in increasing access and the impact it has on people's lives.</p> <p>Can public art be a catalyst for social change?</p> <p>The recent serge in the Community Arts movement in America has brought to light the interest and need within our communities to connect the arts and artists with the greater community at-large. No longer do the arts have to be relegated to traditional art venues such museums and art centers, but integrated into peoples daily experiences. Art is not just for the creatively gifted or a few talented individuals, but in its truest form, it is a point of access for everyone to unleash their inner-creativity and self expression. It is a way to communicate ideas, experiences and emotions. Art can change lives.</p> <p>1) What role does public art play in making a city a more culturally diverse and vibrant city?</p> <p>2) How can public art bring value to a city and its citizens, socially, economically and environmentally?</p> <p>Big bears and cows are cool, but if Denver is really going to make it big, the community has to be part of the dialogue between artists and community leaders.</p> <p>So to answer the question, what would the art say about their urban home? I think the big blue bear says it best, "I see what you mean".</p> Nice little travel log about Arizona, but what’s your point?

What does aerial perspectives or urban sprawl have to do with the success of a city’s public art. Why would the growth of a city make public art more appealing to its citizens? Is the logic, more people, more buildings, more art? How does public engagement correlate to an increased capacity? We’re not talking about eye candy or decoration but how a community can benefit from public art and the potential it can provide in increasing access and the impact it has on people’s lives.

Can public art be a catalyst for social change?

The recent serge in the Community Arts movement in America has brought to light the interest and need within our communities to connect the arts and artists with the greater community at-large. No longer do the arts have to be relegated to traditional art venues such museums and art centers, but integrated into peoples daily experiences. Art is not just for the creatively gifted or a few talented individuals, but in its truest form, it is a point of access for everyone to unleash their inner-creativity and self expression. It is a way to communicate ideas, experiences and emotions. Art can change lives.

1) What role does public art play in making a city a more culturally diverse and vibrant city?

2) How can public art bring value to a city and its citizens, socially, economically and environmentally?

Big bears and cows are cool, but if Denver is really going to make it big, the community has to be part of the dialogue between artists and community leaders.

So to answer the question, what would the art say about their urban home? I think the big blue bear says it best, “I see what you mean”.

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