Public Art Analysis
When we think of art, maybe we think about art hanging in a museum or in a gallery on display. However, art is more than what we see in high culture establishments. In fact, art is all around us on a daily basis and we may not even recognize it. As students of the arts and humanities, we are going to conduct some field research in the realm of public / street art. This means we are going to find art that is on display in public places rather than in museums or galleries. What does this include? For this project, the art we are looking for is not limited to the following but includes:
• Street art / graffiti / vandalism
• Art hanging in restaurants and other public places like building lobbies or a hotel concourse
• Sculptures and memorials in public spaces like in front of courthouses or on the grounds of a museum or in a public park or street corner
• Murals on the sides of buildings or the walls of an interstate highway
What kinds of art should you avoid for this project? Steer clear of:
• Billboards
• Advertisements (avoid any paid advertising)
• Public service announcements
• Street signs
• Art INSIDE a gallery proper
• Art INSIDE a museum proper
• Any art on display temporarily
• Any art you have to specifically pay to see the art
• AVOID ANY art that requires you to trespass to get up close it for analysis!!
What is important about the art we are going to analyze is the public nature and no-cost of viewing the piece. Whether it was put there illegally or legally, it must have been put in a public space so as to say, “look at this.” Therefore, it is recommended that you begin looking for your chosen public art piece early and often. When you go out and drive around, look for art in conspicuous places. If you see something from your car, make note of it to return to that place to analyze it and take pictures of it. A few examples of public art (in Fort Worth, TX) is the graffiti on the trains that run parallel and perpendicular to 8th Avenue (and I-30) in the Near Southside of downtown. There is public art painted on the pillars of the Lancaster St bridge in Trinity Park. There is art hanging on display inside most Chuy’s Mexican Food restaurants. There are bronze sculptures in the Central Market shopping center at Hulen and I-30. These are just a few examples in Fort Worth, Tx, but you will find similar examples in every city in the world.
The Assignment
For this assignment, you will choose ONE piece of public art for analysis. You will take three pictures of that piece of art so as to capture THREE distinct angles/lighting/perspectives of the piece. You will also include ONE selfie of yourself in front of the art piece (this is non-negotiable as it will prove you actually conducted the assignment correctly by physically visiting the location).
In three paragraphs you will answer the following:
Paragraph 1. Describe the formal elements IN DETAIL. Describe every minute detail of your chosen public art piece. What is it made out of? How big is it? What colors are used? What is the layout of the piece? Describe every person or character in the piece. What are they doing? Is there any text involved? What does it say? Who is the artist (if known)? Where is it located? How long has it been there? What historical information can be gathered about the piece? What is its history? How does perspective and angle change how the piece is viewed (refer to your photographs of the piece to elaborate your explanation).
Paragraph 2. What qualifies your chosen public art piece as art? Here you will defend the art-worthiness of your piece. What makes it “art?”
Paragraph 3. Does having this work of public art in public affect how it is interpreted/received by the viewer? Why? If so, how does it impact the viewer/audience? If not, why does it not matter? Explain your answer thoroughly.
