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Apaprently the project to repaint the traffic control boxes along Main Street and Maple Street has started. This is a picture of the repainted traffic control box on the southeast corner of Main Street and Broadway across from City Hall  Art and one's opinion of it is often in the eye of the beholder. So what is you opinion? - Is this an attraction or distraction?
- Will this be appropriate throughout the Historic District?
- Does this fit the published theme of Good Living in North Little Rock?
- Should the rest of the boxes be painted?
What do you think?
Waiting for the first wreck....
Written by mamagoza, on 03-07-2007 13:11
as folks try to decide what that traffic box is trying to say. Will MSA give out a brochure explaining each painting and will the trolley conductors have a copy? Very interesting.... |
NOT art
Written by I M Strange, on 03-07-2007 13:17
Paint them all black! In or out of the district THEN purchase some quality, jurried, sculptural, public art. Display it prominantly on all of the land the city owns. Further, as part of any downtown re-development plan, REQUIRE that 5% of the cost of the project is used to purchase and display quality, jurried, public art. |
yuck
Written by sickandtired, on 03-07-2007 16:38
I saw this today on my way to work; it IS a distraction. It is ugly, and I'm afraid to see what the rest will look like. Does the Historic District Commission not have to approve the appropriateness? |
The District
Written by I M Strange, on 03-07-2007 17:32
According to my map they can do anything they want south of Broadway. It is not in the district. But North of Broadway they could stop this mess. Is there anyone in charge that can do something about this short of guerilla paint jobs in the dark of night. (Is it considered "tagging" if something is repainted to it's original color?) |
Good Grief!
Written by goboy, on 03-07-2007 18:34
All we need is some more graffiti in the neighborhood. Who can put a stop to this! |
THIS IS ART...GET OVER IT!!!
Written by dumblonde, on 03-07-2007 20:58
Okay, while I do not necessarily think it looks good on an electrical box, I do believe that it is a very nice painting. (All of those who hate this & are not calling this art forgive me. I took art in school and came to appreciate art whether I liked it or not.) While I, personally, would not have gone with a religious theme; I would have continued the painting on the remaining two sides of the box. When you are headed north on Main Street, you don't see the painting until you are in sight of the west side of the box. I've not viewed the east side of the box but do assume that it is a blank canvas as well.
The artist has portrayed what I saw on a visit to a church in the Bearing Cross neighborhood several years ago and takes place in many churches in our city on Sunday mornings. Not only have I witnessed this, what some would call "behavior ", I grew up in this "behavior" as a child in the churches that I attended. Though I grew up somewhat ashamed and afraid to voice my religious beliefs this artist has expressed his or her beliefs in this painting. My first thought upon seeing this painting was that the polka dots on the black dress were pieces of scotch tape that the artist failed to remove upon completion. Upon closer viewing I noticed that the artist did not want to take away from the story that is being told in his or her work by over powering the dress with polka dots. Though I do not support the painting of these boxes in the Historic District, I would hope that the artist would return to complete the remaining sides of the box so as to give it a uniform appearance.
Yes, it is a distraction to motorist; but it IS ART! The longer I stair at this painting as I write my post, I have come to realize that it is a beautiful piece of art. I like the painting itself…just not on an electrical box. |
FYI!
Written by pulsecheck, on 04-07-2007 00:14
The beautiful piece of art that the comments are addressing is by a local North Little Rock artist named Theresa Cates. She is a working mother (employed by the State of Arkansas) with 5 children who, when she heard of the Argenta Public Art Project, volunteered to share her talent with the city she loves free of charge. Specializing in acrylics her work has been exhibited in several Arkansas galleries (including Red Door on JFK) and has even ventured to Georgia at ABL Art Gallery in Covington. She was one of 7 artist chosen to speak at a reception sponsored by the renowned art magazine Artistic Impressions in Chicago and was a featured artist at the historical opening of the William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Library,where her pieces were displayed and sold.
Believing that her graceful figures evoke the celebration of life, the freedom to gather and share that joy...while stimulating discussion of those that have different views...what more apporpriate for the theme "Good Living in North Little Rock"?
I hope that those touched by any of the art that will soon be present at these locations will realize that what ever your opinion, you have been presented with something out of the ordinary, something that many will enjoy, something that didn't cost you a dime, and was donated to our city by talented artists that will not receive any compensation for their efforts...only the joy of giving to "their city" that they love and support!
Warmest Regards,
Claire Haun
Argenta Public Art Project Committee Member |
Oh My Gosh!
Written by ArgentaFan, on 04-07-2007 00:41
I had no idea! As long as somebody famous did the art and it was given free, we are all supposed to go all gushy, love it and apreciate it. Silly me I thought we were doing this for the citizens, not the artists. Seriously, start a gallery if you want to give artists a place to show their work. Don't inflict it on all of us without our input. Perhaps a large, abstract nude placed in your front yard for all your neighbor kids to stare at would be a good idea too. |
Art Appreciation
Written by dumblonde, on 04-07-2007 01:07
Though I appreciate art as much as the next person, and whether the artist is known, information is given out about them or the art is free to the city does not mean that the artwork is appropriate for electrical boxes in the Historic District. I'm not saying public art is a bad thing. However, is this being done for the artist or for the citizens of NLR? If it's for the artist, give them the recognition they truly and well deserve for their work. If it's for the citizens of NLR then they need to have input on the project(s). |
Wow!
Written by DulcineaLady, on 04-07-2007 01:58
I love it! I like the details- the white dove in flight, the fan in the lady's hand and the preacher's hand on the woman that he's praying for... Great job! |
Response to pulsecheck...
Written by dcrazorback, on 04-07-2007 02:19
I am familiar with Theresa's work and think it is admirable she volunteered her talents to do this piece, but I find it a bit insulting to artists to ask them to paint on electrical boxes and demeaning of their talent; talent that should be elevated to higher standards - not wrapped around an electrical box that is going to be relieved upon by dogs, birds, you name it. Come on, our local artists deserve better than to be asked to paint electrical boxes. How about donating more storefronts to showcase and sell their works, create designated public art displays and compensate these people like they deserve. Artists need to be treated like the professionals they are and given respectible places in which to showcase their work. Not the place Pooch is gonna pee on! |
Written by retroman, on 04-07-2007 04:21
A Great Attraction!
This art goes well throughout the Historic District. It looks like another type of downtown revival or renewal on Main Street. For years I have heard preachers say \"You Can\'t Put God In A Box\",but this artist has shown all (Argentle)people The Spirit of God on an Electical Box. Good Job! If this keeps up maybe we can start calling this blog The Good News Argenta Blog! |
Written by retroman, on 04-07-2007 04:27
Excuse the misspelled word electical would be a type of ecclectic electrical box. |
Response to dcrazorback
Written by retroman, on 04-07-2007 04:39
Sculpture and statue art has been taking direct hits from birds and dogs for years. |
Written by sickandtired, on 04-07-2007 10:21
I agree with ArgentaFan and Dumblonde, and I stand by my original comment, what about the Historic Distric Guidelines? When is their (HDC) next meeting? As residents (and not invited outside artists) can we comment? And will it do any good? |
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