Public Art In Chicago

Throughout history there have been many public funding’s that contributed to the world of art. Whether anyone realizes it or not, artists have a lot of responsibilities to try and please the public when they are working for the public. Also, there are numerous regional issues that greatly influence decisions about publicly funded art. Art is very important when forming a sense of nation character, therefore, we should support the public funding of art in America. Art is an important part of society and it can also be a very valuable part of our everyday lives. However, there are many positive and negative effects when it comes to the public funding of art in America. Supporters claim that subsidizing the arts pays for itself. These supporters suggest that the arts are what drive the economy of businesses within a community.

The National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities Act of 1965 states that it is up to the Federal Government to assist the local, state, regional and private agencies and artist in developing arts in the communities in several different ways. It also states that the Federal Government is to encourage freedom of thought, imagination, and inquiry but also the material conditions facilitating the release of this creative talent. Lastly, the Act states that it is to fulfill an educational mission and make widely available the greatest achievements of art “National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities Act of 1965”).

Countless art has been sought-after throughout history. Explorers, scientists, art collectors, politicians, and entrepreneurs from Western nations have sought out and removed art from the lands of great civilizations, often with the assistance and participation of local people and governments. Even as cultural property faces immediate danger today in conflict zones like Syria and Mali, there is circumstantial evidence that some nations are awakening to the political and foreign policy benefits that can flow from the repatriation of cultural patrimony. While on a different scale from World War II, historic structures, religious monuments, and other priceless ancient times continue to suffer collateral damage and manipulation in armed conflict. Relics have been stolen, smuggled and sold in what is a reported multibillion dollar underground market. They have become the illicit prizes of private collectors and the subject of legal claims against museums. Of the countless museums subject to legal claims, The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City happens to be one of them. “The Metropolitan Museum has acquired thousands of works and objects of art from the antiquities”. “For the past several years, the government of Turkey has warned U.S. and foreign museums (including The Metropolitan Museum of Art), that unless ancient objects from Turkish soil are given up on demand, Turkey will stop lending artworks” (The Committee for Cultural Policy, 2015). Turkey continues to up the

     Public art conquers so much more than the simple task of making the street a little easier to look at. It involves those who created it, those who supplied the means to create it, and those whose lives it continues to impact. Wall paintings in particular take an important role in working for a greater good. Judith F. Baca, a Hispanic-American woman and artist- activist has contributed an unaccountable amount to the mural movement in Los Angeles. She has accomplished this by giving individuals the chance to create art and develop a sense of pride, she has taught younger generations a respect for their ethnic identity, and from the many walks of life that continue to view her

There are many different types of street art and murals that are part of any community. Street art and murals can give a voice or a cultural background to the community. Many types of cities have beautiful street art like Hollywood, within Hollywood there is a little community called Little Armenia. In this community there is a mural located on the side of Winona and Hollywood Boulevard. This mural is a symbol of what the Armenian Genocide was and because the mural is an area where Armenians and others walk from to go to the Turkish Embassy to fight for remembrance for the 1.5 million Armenians that have died on April 24. This mural shows us what the community is about and it brings the community higher and not lower.

The building at 111 South Michigan Avenue, home of the Art Institute of Chicago, was opened in 1893 as the World’s Congress Auxiliary Building for the World’s Columbian Exposition. The building was passed on to the Art Institute after the end of the exposition. Designed in the Beax-Arts style by Boston firm Shepley, Rutan, and Coolidge, building has become an icon for chicagoans an tourists alike. The Modern Wing, the Art Institute’s latest and largest addition to date, opened on May 16, 2009, and was designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano. The 264,000 square foot addition now houses the museum’s collections of modern European painting and sculpture, contemporary art, architecture and design, and photography. The new

With ticket sales for the Van Gogh exhibit in high demand, it’s no wonder the Art Institute of Chicago has a reputation of bringing classic, contemporary, and modern pieces to life. Reflective of the works that are housed within its walls, the Art Institute has had its own fair share of history that is worth discussing. Surviving and rebuilding itself after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, the museum has used its revival to continue to educate and build future artists through works around the world. The School of the Art Institute, a part of the museum, houses more than 3000 students. With the future of art being led through this museum through patrons and students, what will be the next great masterpiece?

State and federal governments wrestle with the many questions that come with the funding of public art. People wonder whether or not government has a legitimate role in the arts and if they do, whether or not the arts should be given funds when so many other needs are present in our society. I believe that art provides many benefits and that if policymakers would begin to understand these benefits that the arts have on government and citizens, then they would find a way to support the arts even through difficult financial situations. “Arts and culture are consistent sources of economic growth, during both good and difficult economic times. Specifically, arts and culture policies and programs increase economic development in states by attracting

With exhibitions of the most thought-provoking art, The Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago is one of the Nation’s largest facilities devoted to the art of our time (“About the MCA”) . The mission of the MCA is to offer a direct experience to the public of modern day art and living artists. German architect Joseph Paul Kleihues designed the new building with seven times the square feet of its previous facility (“The Building”) . October of 1967 the museum opened its doors to the public for the first time. The Museum of Contemporary Art is a symbol of modern art, culture, and the artist of our time. It is a stepping stone in history and will leave footprints in the heart of Chicago for many generations to come.

Some other inexpensive attractions in Chicago are the different museums and exhibits scattered around the downtown area.

time to visit museums. When public art is funded by the government, the artist’s imagination is

When it comes to the artwork in question of being displayed I don’t think that the mayor can prohibit the work from appearing in the show. For example, from a legal standard he would be violating the artist’s free right of expression. As a person who resides in the city it is the artist’s right to express his vision in his artwork as he pleases as long as he isn’t offending anyone. In preventing the artist from displaying his work he can also be showing that he is only troubled by the painting because the people in the painting are black causing a controversy of racism. The only reason that the mayor would call the painting “sick” and “disgusting” is because he probably feels personally offended but tries to hide behind the nudity aspect that

A majority of the nation, up until recent visual and performance art legislation was proposed in congress, hadn't been made aware that they, the taxpayers, were supporting any form of art. It wasn't until the recent attacks on the NEA, an agency designed to fund grants to certain projects, that taxpayers paid attention. The government's funding of the arts is a highly controversial issue that argues some of the most basic philosophical questions regarding the subjective and objective views of aesthetic value.

“Any drawn line that speaks about identity, dignity, and unity is art,” (Chaz Bojorquey) is a statement that I agree with. Art is perceived differently from all people based on their culture, religion, personal taste, and many other factors. I believe that as long as what has been created is meaningful to either the creator or even to somebody that is viewing it, it should be considered art. Art in the public is a very controversial subject that brings up the important question of, “Should public art be considered as real art,” personally I think that it should be. I believe that the difference between art that is placed in a gallery and art that is visible by a community is the fact that what is acceptable in a gallery

Given the fact that the city’s downtown district and main point of attraction is marketed as “The Arts District,” the community’s appreciation and support for artistic creativity is to be expected. The unexpected element that specifically Carmel provides is that this support is directed towards all local proponents in the area. In analyzing the recent advertisement for a community art fair (see Appendix B), this concept is more than clear. The poster, marketing the Carmel International Arts Festival, advertises the twentieth running of the event that showcases local artists of all backgrounds, mediums, and interests. At this event, artists (regardless of their skills or expertise) are able to generate self-exposure, sell their work, and introduce more of the community to their cultures and talents. These opportunities for local artists can serve as a means for many of them to use their artwork to earn their