Public Art as publicity

Public Art as publicity
Miwon Kwon

Firstly I think Public art has become a major part of the community, and even though it may not be as obvious to the eye, it is still there and within the uneducated eye as well as those educated and looking for it. As an artist it is a great way to do a community project and put some work on your cv. A lot of public art is commissioned by the government through grants. Giving artists an opportunity to work with members of the community close to the environment in which it is placed.

I think a great example of public art in Australia is ‘Sculpture By the Sea’. Even though the event doesn't consist of permanent work for the community, it does allow artists to make work specific to the site. It is an enormous area that thousands of viewers encounter every year. Public Art is a great opportunity for emerging artists to be seen and introduced to the art world. I think that sculpture by the sea is a representation of the ideas exerted by John Ahearn's efforts which were 'meant to function as art that is of the people and to some extent by the people, that it represents.' Though the artist does not have any say as to when the art work is taken down, the artist is aware from the start of the exhibition as to when the art work will be removed.

Systems of communication modes of publicity that have helped the way in which public art practices have developed in the U.S

- Authoritarian System of communication - one way, one idea, considered 'evil'

- Paternalistic; Public service, sense of responsibility; More exposed and
vulnerable; problematic of localisation of power and control.

- Commercial- opposed to the first two modes; free market, freedom to publish and read what you choose. New controls based on profitability.

- Democratic mode opposes commercial and state control. Modes are owned by the people who use them.

- New genre public art which is based on participation and collaboration of audience members in the production of the art work, seeking social change

Is the next mode
- Guerilla art?
Has street art been included here somewhere? If the "guerilla act" was in 1983.