Two Annotated Bibliography Sources

ART425 Annotated Bibliography

Austin Caswell

Brown, Jefferey. “Philadelphia Public Art Project Ponders the Meaning behind Monuments.” Public Broadcasting Service, October 9, 2017, https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/philadelphia-public-art-project-ponders-meaning-behind-monuments (accessed October 16, 2019).

· Abstract:

This article discusses the problems around past erected public sculpture, and seeks to offer to possibilities for the future so that problematic public sculpture can be less of an issue in the future. It starts off by discussing where previous monuments might have gone awry. From underrepresentation of women and people of color to celebration of atrocities and missteps, this article highlights what public sculpture isn’t looking for in the future. To offer some possible directions forward, the article examined different artists and their public work around Philadelphia. Many different directions are discussed, from long term to short term work, and how to go about employing a message. One concept that was quite interesting was posed by sculptor Mel Chin, and he discussed the idea of challenging the “me” vs the “we” with his interactive sculpture. Overall, it asks questions of what is inclusive, ethical public art.

· Notation:

In this article, Brown establishes himself as a knowledgeable authority figure by assembling a well-informed cast of interviewees. His use of dialogue with contemporary artists and city initiative officials alike grant this source a lot of credibility given how close to the problem these interviewees are. The intended audience is a bit more general as this article was for PBS, however, it still seeks to inform all on the issues surrounding public sculpture and does so in an accessible yet thorough nature. This work is useful because it offers different artists, and their various interpretations to public sculpture. Their insight grant ideas for direction to possible sculpture in the future.

La Feuvre, Lisa. “Public? Sculpture?” Art Monthly, no. 409 (September 2017): 11–15, http://search.ebscohost.com.ezproxy2.library.colostate.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=cookie,ip,url,cpid&custid=s4640792&db=aph&AN=125377594&site=ehost-live (accessed November 3, 2019).

· Abstract:

This article discusses the nature of public sculpture and looks specifically at the German town of Münster concerning their public sculpture program and how it has developed. The author, La Feuvre, makes many compelling arguments and observations about modern public sculpture in this writing, and most serve to question the contemporary meaning of sculpture in concert with its evolution. One point that sticks out is when she argues that public space isn’t really decided by the public in actuality, but rather that this space “involves many private interests” that go beyond public engagement (13). Furthermore, her questioning of location didn’t end there. She questioned the nature of public sculpture being outside in parks just to fill space and raised a point about sculpture becoming more concerned with being site specific in the future. Her examination of the 2017 Münster Sculpture Project critiques the nature of building sculpture for the public that isn’t site specific and wouldn’t matter if it was inside or outside.

· Notation:

In this article, La Feuvre establishes herself as deeply informed on sculpture. She is a writer, editor, curator, and worked for the Henry Moore Institute as well. Her ability to acknowledge certain aspects of the sculpture she’s discussing and question others strengthens her argument, and promotes more thinking from the reader. The intended reader for an article such as this is most likely academics concerned with art and its direction overall. This article is quite beneficial because of how it seeks to question public sculpture, and how it doesn’t just nod along and say that all public sculpture is good public sculpture. It questions and pushes the contemporary meaning behind sculptural work, and can serve to greatly inform my pursuit as I move forward in attempting public sculpture.