Public Art and Some Political Shit.

Note: It has been a very long time since I have posted anything on this blog. For the better part of the last two years I have been engrained in all my professional work, leaving projects like this to fall behind.

I know what you are going to say, "did he really just say public art?" I did! That is a very sensitive, very HOT topic that is circulating the social media pipelines. Holyoke City Council placed a temporary ban on public art. What a crock, right? I agree. Also in agreement are a bunch of artists. The city council, by accounts of quite a few people should have no business sticking their hands into such matters, considering there is a policy in place and the Holyoke Cultural Council is charged with signing off on public art installation.

Today I decided to express a few things, visually. The following images are from the back of my studio. The windows are tall and I have chosen to exhibit a few photos.  Engage, Community, Art... Community is an illustration that I produced, dedicated to the artists in Holyoke that are being challenged by their practices and desires to engage the community with their art. 

I call this piece, "One Big Metaphor"

 

What I am going to do is provide links to supporting articles about the subject matter, both the ban and another matter involving public art, below. I do not want to go on a tangent about the ban. But I will say this, I think it is ridiculous that a nimby-ist philistine would enact a policy out of personal vengeance. The moment I heard, "public art ban in Holyoke," I smacked my head with such force that I have a welt. As a friend of mine says, 1 step forward, 3 steps back. Holyoke has been dancing back and forth so long that it is in its own way, tripping and falling. Truth of the matter is that Holyoke, up until September was a place of raw inspiration, raw space, raw possibilities. I have been a part of an arts community for quite a few years now, often saying that Holyoke is what New York City used to be like for the artists, but on an obviously smaller scale. Artists have used public space, galleries, private spaces, industrial spaces, to show their work. I have seen entire pieces constructed around the industrial environment that we have here in Holyoke.

The reason for an abrupt self inflicted wound is because of the sheer balls it took to basically say, we dont want art in town. Whether that is the intended message or not, people preceived it that way due to the language that was used. The fact that there is a temporary ban is just nucking futs. It is almost baffling to think about it. Holyoke has an "Arts & Innovation District," A "Creative Economy," so to speak, and a position with the municipal government dedicated to the "creative economy," "The Creative Economy Coordinator." Last year we had a month long exhibition of various projects. "Holyoke Points of View." Ken Burns even came to town, Ken, fucking, Burns. That is a big deal. But fast forward a year and there is an issue with art. Art, as everyone knows, inspires, changes, motivates, and empowers a community. Art, for all intensive purposes has shaped, changed, rebuilt, and built communities. Art has and will always be a vehicle for social change, both good and bad. To place a ban on art is to ban the community from growing, changing, and thriving.

Please take a read through the following links if you are unfamiliar with the topics at hand. Enjoy your weekend...

Latino Rebels | A Temporary Ban on Public Art In Holyoke.

La Respuesta Something Rotten In Holyoke

Masslive City Council Overrides Mayor's Veto 

Masslive David Flores

Vacant Spaces

We know the word vacant to be defined as "open, ready to occupy, space available." But to think in terms of a city, the word vacancy takes on a negative connotation. This is true. A stigma and bias towards vacant spaces creates a negative stereotype in cities such as Holyoke.  To be frank, that is just bullshit.. Yes, the argument that a depilated building that is half fallen in on itself is a problem, is without a doubt a topic that is addressed by city officials, economists, real estate professionals, and anyone that sees that. However, time and time again, I hear things about Holyoke, buildings in Holyoke, and places, where this negativity is continuously propelled into the world, local community, and fosters that stigma. As you pass by in your car, you might not be aware of what is happening on the inside. Fear, ignorance, and uncertainty keep us from paying attention to what is really going on. This kind of thinking is an old form of thinking and prevents the idea that something new is alive, thriving, and happening.

Vacancy can actually have a positive meaning. The possibility of something new, something better, something great, something inhabiting the space. Like a hotel with a room free and open, the vacancy sign swings as an attraction to passing motorists saying, "hey come in and stay here." An empty space means that there is a chance of something creative growing, bringing back to life the space itself, the building, or the surrounding community. It takes the right kind of person to invision a space that will be used for a different purpose, other than what it was built for. The right kind of person that will put back into the space the creativity needed to make it thrive. Below is an example of a space that is vacant. At the moment the shutter reverberated around the white walls, bouncing around the room like the pouring in afternoon light, the space sat alone. Empty and warm, the space is waiting. It is waiting for its new tenant to move in and occupy it. Creativity will flourish and new life will emerge.

To the person passing by looking up, you will see two windows, arched yellow bricks, and a front door that says 80. It is our hope that you will be moved to point where your curiosity sways you into examining more critically what really is here. Sure, we have some vacant buildings. They might out number some other areas, but at least our vacant buildings are beautiful and historical. I for one would rather see an empty mill vs an empty strip mall.

When the lights come on...

The fog comes out to play.

Flower Power: Holyoke's Farmers Market

Every year, starting on this day, High st in front of City Hall is closed down for the Farmers Market. You can get all kinds of locally grown things there. Fruits, vegetables, flowers, you know, that sorta thing. Occasionally there is prepared food to snack on and some cardio to participate in. At the very basic, it is promoting locally grown produce and a healthier lifestyle.