tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10112238.post113077599368470840..comments2023-10-30T08:22:42.478-04:00Comments on GIERSCHICKWORK: Fear no art...unless it offends you.GIERSCHICKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16036540745869821305noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10112238.post-1131038126154326242005-11-03T12:15:00.000-05:002005-11-03T12:15:00.000-05:00No, don't get me wrong, I love memorials. Actually...No, don't get me wrong, I love memorials. Actually, I love the idea of memorials. And I fully intend in seeing your small town someday. I have a certain admiration for small-city camp: every town worth its salt has some of it. (Sidenote: I can't see such things as you described - statue of liberty repros, etc. - as otherwise; I've lost what little genuine naivete I ever had, quite a while ago). I also think the idea of memorial is rich for possibilities for mediums which we don't usually associate with "memorials" per se. See e.g.: <BR/><BR/>http://www.douglaswitmer.com/blog/2005_06_01_archive.html <BR/><BR/>(scroll down to "in memoriam".) Unfortunately, the discussion there has been lost. <BR/>Also, a favorite architect of mine, Robert Venturi, talks about the everyday/vernacular memorial. <BR/>See: http://www.vsba.com/whoweare/index_philo.html <BR/>(especially, sketches on right.)<BR/><BR/>All that said, however...I can't help thinking, when I'm in a place like Washington D.C., that memorials are partly an excuse for not officially dealing with an issue - "here ya go, another memorial to appease you."<BR/><BR/> But, on the other hand, some like Maya Lin's (sp?) Vietnam War Memorial genuinely moves people; seemingly more than other memorials. Perhaps partly because it's more of a "blank slate," divested of context besides the inscribed names? I'm not sure. But I couldn't help, last time I was in D.C., becoming sickened and cynical, thinking of all the carnage that was memorialized in marble and bronze. I thought of that verse in Romans, but in a different way: "Shall we keep on [warring], so that [memorials] may increase? By no means; we died to [war], how can we live in it any longer?" Weird, I know, but the synapse has stuck with me for some reason.<BR/><BR/>Things/people/events DO need to be remembered; I think the expression needs to be rethought and reworked.<BR/><BR/>See, rambling is okay by me.GIERSCHICKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16036540745869821305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10112238.post-1131033759928513852005-11-03T11:02:00.000-05:002005-11-03T11:02:00.000-05:00While I do live in the heart of Averagejoeville, I...While I do live in the heart of Averagejoeville, I have no way of knowing if my impressions of my neighbors and coworkers are accurate. (For an optimistic perspective on this topic, see the new book <I><A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/158648270X/002-7483397-5307239?v=glance&n=283155&s=books&v=glance" REL="nofollow">The Average American: The Extraordinary Search for the Nation's Most Ordinary Citizen</A></I> by Kevin O'Keefe).<BR/><BR/>I would definiely agree with the idea that A.J. would listen to dissenting viewpoints much more readily if they are not in any way connected to his wallet. But there's still very little tolerance for what is labeled disrespectful or unpatriotic (and much of engaged contemporary art would fall into those categories, I'm afraid). Perhaps it is wrong to talk about midwestern opinions of east coast art. What about average east coast opinions of east coast art?<BR/><BR/>On the other hand, I have inlaws (very average farmers) who have now been to NYC several times specifically because of Ground Zero (clean-up, revisiting, honoring, etc). So there are those average midwesterners who will be very engaged with what happens with the memorial. And if Rush or Bill O'Reilly starts spouting off about it, I'm sure even more will start caring.<BR/><BR/>If you don't like memorials, don't come visit our little midwestern town of 12,000. I would have to show you the replica Statue of Liberty, the giant "American" eagle in front of the courthouse, and the sprawling military memorial downtown. There's more, but I'll spare you.<BR/><BR/>Sorry for the rambling.Dale Zimmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12903529864993399930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10112238.post-1130967469393517002005-11-02T16:37:00.000-05:002005-11-02T16:37:00.000-05:00yeah, last weekend Tim R. was talking about how ni...yeah, last weekend Tim R. was talking about how nice the Ellsworth Kelly piece would be also. too bad:(<BR/><BR/>just click on the trash can, then it will ask you if you want to delete forever.Ben Voltahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01802664062483963305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10112238.post-1130960610339764702005-11-02T14:43:00.000-05:002005-11-02T14:43:00.000-05:00Hey, Ben, if you can explain to me how to delete c...Hey, Ben, if you can explain to me how to delete certain posts, then I'll do it for you...my blog experience hasn't covered that part yet! <BR/><BR/>And you're right; the World Trade Center memorial et cetera is a debacle; does the average person really care anymore, besides maybe New Yorkers and the families involved? To tell you the truth, I don't...and I don't think we need another so-called memorial. <BR/><BR/>I still am a quiet minority for using Ellsworth Kelly's idea...do you remember it? - a huge mound over the whole sight, covered with lush grass...and that's it. Now that would be a memorial.GIERSCHICKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16036540745869821305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10112238.post-1130960252155339272005-11-02T14:37:00.000-05:002005-11-02T14:37:00.000-05:00Some good thoughts, DZ...I am much agreed that the...Some good thoughts, DZ...I am much agreed that the "average American" would not usually pay out (and doesn't) for people whose viewpoints differ from them. How many "blue-staters" listen to Rush Limbaugh for a second opinion? I haven't met any yet. Although, Rush is not, as far as I know, funded by federal money, but rather corporate and individual...but those lines are getting fuzzier. Anyway, I think the point is that, if one goes into it ASSUMING that a viewpoint/expression that may be disagreeable to the publiic/majority is imminent from an institution such as the Drawing Center, average Joes may always balk with their wallet. But if one assumes rather that the public's opinions (i.e., those who are indirectly paying for all of it) are NOT going to be trampled and spat upon willy-nilly, but simply open to the possibility of challenges, then the avenue may be more open to free speech, as it were. (This all assumes, of course, civility, which is in short supply on the East Coast.)Perhaps this is all very naive, but it always seems to be assumed that the average joe is more belligerent than "he" actually is. Maybe? <BR/>Do you think, then, that Average Joe would be much more amenable to/willing to listen to dissenting viewpoints if it's not connected to his wallet? <BR/><BR/>Of course, I don't even know to what extent the Drawing Center was "critical to the U.S. Government."GIERSCHICKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16036540745869821305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10112238.post-1130951427924566522005-11-02T12:10:00.000-05:002005-11-02T12:10:00.000-05:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Ben Voltahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01802664062483963305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10112238.post-1130951320452056662005-11-02T12:08:00.000-05:002005-11-02T12:08:00.000-05:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Ben Voltahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01802664062483963305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10112238.post-1130951255943244282005-11-02T12:07:00.000-05:002005-11-02T12:07:00.000-05:00ground zero is a nightmare... I wish that they wou...ground zero is a nightmare... I wish that they would have built a Louis Kahn building or something that was as far from political interest as theoretically possible. instead we have talks of a walmart popping up b/c they are willing to front the bill for reconstruction. uhh...<BR/><BR/>I hope the drawing center stays put. moving to trenton or Cmmden would bring it closer to us in phila, ha, I like that idea.Ben Voltahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01802664062483963305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10112238.post-1130939837838007902005-11-02T08:57:00.000-05:002005-11-02T08:57:00.000-05:00I think an oversimplified summary of the position ...I think an oversimplified summary of the position of critics such as this is: why should we pay people to offend us? Most Americans are okay with dissenting voices in some capacity, but I know of very few who want to give money to ensure that we hear those voices, or to elevate them to any position of authority or acceptance. Granting them tax dollars or providing them access to prime real estate fits the bill.<BR/><BR/>I'm not sure I disagree with the above summary too much. I strongly support the rights of free speech as well as the need for dissenting opinions. But I'm not sure Average Joe will ever <I>hear</I> the message if he has to contribute to its funding.Dale Zimmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12903529864993399930noreply@blogger.com