SERIOUSLY -- WTF is wrong with people? People complain about art that's not even offensive? Whatever you bring to the table and project on the art is YOUR problem. I understand that trauma brings about irrational/emotional reactions (and I'm even sympathetic to that on some level). But the idea that the world has to change so you can live more comfortably within it is unhealthy. I'll bet these are the same folks who don't bat an eye while watching re-runs of fires or drownings on CSI (or whatever the popular crime-drama of the day might be).
How can we work to create a new model that allows public art to exist but not be subject to the constant whims of a vocal minority? I feel sorry for the daily grind folks like Deborah Paine must face.
Strange days for art...even non-politic art has become political.
I feel like I can see the writing on the wall here... he's going to go away and make something else that still involves the element of fire, and the person who complained is going to whine, "But you didn't take the fire out of it." Sellars is right with her point that there's no "assurance that you're not going to have 10 bitchy people again".
I don't know... to me, it sounds like a few people with jobs they hate are throwing a tantrum in order to assert some control over their lives (and the lives of others). I hope they're satisfied with their empty power.
Your public servants -- we have a real crackerjack bunch of city employees for sure! If you really want to get a laugh, watch the coverage of council committee meetings and see the yahoos who come to present from the different departments...
Back on topic -- what, thy couldn't find a local artist to do something to at least keep the money in the local economy???
I work in the city building with this piece (one floor above); it was interesting as were many of the lobby pieces. But my main complaint about this piece, and most of the pieces in the lobbies of our floors (28, 29, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36) is the lack of connection with the workers who spend so much of our lives here.
I would like it if the artists put themselves in our shoes. Come out and meet us before designing the work (not just meet with management and the art office staff.) We work in a drab, brown/grey environment. We are put under a lot of pressure--do more with less. Our management lives high on the hog while most city employees can't afford to live in Seattle. We are proud of public power and City Light's history but not how the Mayor and Council mismanage it. So every day you wait in the lobby for the elevator feeling frustrated, worried, angry, nervous, cranky. Sometimes we are excited, happy (it's Friday mostly), laughing (we like to make fun of management), and satisfied (we actually helped our customers or made the utility a better place to work).
Reflect that reality in the art and I think employees would be more appreciative.
I went to the floor to specifically spend time with Kerry's piece right after the opening. I witnessed a handful of people (mostly women, either obese or borderline) walking out of the offices. They asked me and each other "WhAt Is tHis? I DoNt GET iT? WhatS goInG on? Excuse me sir, do you know what this is or what this means?!?!" I calmly responded "its Art." These people had NO clue and NO desire to engage. It was something new that slightly irritated them and turned into something big. This story is so fucking lame and Im sorry the talented Deborah Paine had to spend her valuable time listening to retards bitch about something they had to look at for a maximum of 4 minutes of their day. I thought the piece was beautiful, tender and amazing...
I agree with No.6-- this is the workers home not an art gallery. Different rules apply. From some of the remarks it is
clear there is disdain for office workers and some workers get this vibe and may see the artwork as a reflection of that general disdain. Some office workers fought back and apparently won this particular battle--good for them. The artist also got some publicity so everyone wins.
I agree with No.6-- this is the workers home not an art gallery. Different rules apply. From some of the remarks it is
clear there is disdain for office workers and some workers get this vibe and may see the artwork as a reflection of that general disdain. Some office workers fought back and apparently won this particular battle--good for them. The artist also got some publicity so everyone wins.
@8/9. I do agree with you up to a point, that because it's an office space, not a gallery, there are limits as to what is appropriate to display. I mean, I would certainly be defending the employees if the art in question was a painting of the Virgin Mary done with poop. But, this piece of art seems just as innocuous to me as a painting of happy little trees. The four elements? What is offensive about that? To me, it's as if they are saying "I don't like green, so please take this piece of art (that you paid a lot of money for) down."
BTW, I have had office jobs for my entire adult life, so I am not disdainful of office workers. I am disdainful of people who use ridiculous, illogical, petty complaints to try to make themselves feel more important.
@dj007 and darbar: This is not the workers' "home." It's a public facility and thus a candidate for public art, i.e. a public gallery. This story upsets me on so many levels. It's frustrating that people are so intolerant of art, imagination and challenging ideas. It's infuriating that these workers and apparently their supporters here believe the daily frustrations of an office worker should inform a commissioned artist or dictate what kind of art is displayed in the PUBLIC entrance to their office (this piece was not in employees' cubicles and the intended audience is anyone who enters that office, not just staff ...). It's frustrating that the city caved into these people. It's frustrating that this artist must no compromise his vision to appease what sounds like a tiny set of angry people so he can put food on his table. It's frustrating that this will probably set some precedent and soon we'll have angry employees in other offices demanding their art be taken down or changed. For god's sake, folks, get a grip and realize art is not always made to please the eye or sooth the soul, but also to challenge the mind and make one .... think.
Does it strike anyone else as a little odd that at the help desk where people need assistance paying electrical bills the city decides to have an art installation that requires 5 continually plugged in tv monitors--whatever. I swear to god I think they just do shit to piss people off.
A few years ago, I worked in an office that had rotating artwork displays in the lobby. One month, a GIANT PLYWOOD PENIS appeared. It was 8 feet tall. It was plywood. It was shaped like a penis. It made everyone very uncomfortable. One morning, before some important clients were set to arrive, a co-worker and I carried the damn thing away and hid it. Some weeks later, the artist & curator were furious to find that the piece had been tampered with. In a way I felt bad, but it was a GIANT PLYWOOD PENIS. What did they expect, putting that thing next to the reception desk?
I don't think my story has much in common with the video display in this article - but I'm pretty sympathetic to anyone who is annoyed by a piece of artwork in their office. It's like someone cranking up their stereo in another cubicle and forcing you to listen to their music. It might be perfectly nice music, but it can still just get on your damn nerves.
Obviously, if a person is fat - especially if it's a fat WOMAN - her opinion of shitty subsidized art, made soley for the peer approval of other shitty subsidized artists, is not important.
The workers are there soley to provide the money to fund the art project. They're too stupid to comment on it.
I'm a bit surprised by the employees' negative reaction: who doesn't enjoy watching a bit of television during the workday? Must be the programing is subpar. After all TV is TV and just because a commitee calls it "art" means nothing - it's still just TV. Perhaps instead of replaying Kerry Skarbakka's loops of narcissistic mental masturbation the powers that be should start playing some first rate porn loops, or those cool aquarium or fireplace videos, or motivational "be happy in your work" videos, or continual PSAs, or maybe some nice family fair. Animal Planet anyone?
darbar, are you fucking kidding? You need to relate to the art? how can art be made to meet everyone's taste and experience? And how did this become about you and your dissatisfaction in your job?
The people that complained need therapy to deal with their issues/ptsd. They definitely don't need to be controlling public art. They work for the public, they work in an area that serves the public.
This is so familiar. As a freelance artist in the 80's and 90's I had a juried display in a Group Health Mental Health/counciling center. My work was not controversial, yet slightly surrealistic with maybe one or two partially clad figures, in what people would say was in "good taste".Certainly not nearly as stark as classical european statues and paintings that profusely populate countries like Italy.
As soon as I had them up, I was notified that I had to take about 3/4 of the show down. Some were deemed a little apocalyptical or too blue. Noted, none of the complaints were from patients, but from staff. Maybe art and work environments, which bring out the worst in whiners, don't mix.
This is just ridiculous.
Note -- management at City Light has never been known to have any stones in their pants....
This is just ridiculous.
Note -- management at City Light has never been known to have any stones in their pants....
How can we work to create a new model that allows public art to exist but not be subject to the constant whims of a vocal minority? I feel sorry for the daily grind folks like Deborah Paine must face.
Strange days for art...even non-politic art has become political.
I don't know... to me, it sounds like a few people with jobs they hate are throwing a tantrum in order to assert some control over their lives (and the lives of others). I hope they're satisfied with their empty power.
Back on topic -- what, thy couldn't find a local artist to do something to at least keep the money in the local economy???
I would like it if the artists put themselves in our shoes. Come out and meet us before designing the work (not just meet with management and the art office staff.) We work in a drab, brown/grey environment. We are put under a lot of pressure--do more with less. Our management lives high on the hog while most city employees can't afford to live in Seattle. We are proud of public power and City Light's history but not how the Mayor and Council mismanage it. So every day you wait in the lobby for the elevator feeling frustrated, worried, angry, nervous, cranky. Sometimes we are excited, happy (it's Friday mostly), laughing (we like to make fun of management), and satisfied (we actually helped our customers or made the utility a better place to work).
Reflect that reality in the art and I think employees would be more appreciative.
clear there is disdain for office workers and some workers get this vibe and may see the artwork as a reflection of that general disdain. Some office workers fought back and apparently won this particular battle--good for them. The artist also got some publicity so everyone wins.
clear there is disdain for office workers and some workers get this vibe and may see the artwork as a reflection of that general disdain. Some office workers fought back and apparently won this particular battle--good for them. The artist also got some publicity so everyone wins.
BTW, I have had office jobs for my entire adult life, so I am not disdainful of office workers. I am disdainful of people who use ridiculous, illogical, petty complaints to try to make themselves feel more important.
BTW- I'm a big fan of your work. Any chance you will be showing in Seattle any time soon?
I don't think my story has much in common with the video display in this article - but I'm pretty sympathetic to anyone who is annoyed by a piece of artwork in their office. It's like someone cranking up their stereo in another cubicle and forcing you to listen to their music. It might be perfectly nice music, but it can still just get on your damn nerves.
like a person's size has *anything* to do with his/her relationship to art.
or his/her gender for that matter.
The workers are there soley to provide the money to fund the art project. They're too stupid to comment on it.
The people that complained need therapy to deal with their issues/ptsd. They definitely don't need to be controlling public art. They work for the public, they work in an area that serves the public.
The piece sounds amazing.
As soon as I had them up, I was notified that I had to take about 3/4 of the show down. Some were deemed a little apocalyptical or too blue. Noted, none of the complaints were from patients, but from staff. Maybe art and work environments, which bring out the worst in whiners, don't mix.