Placing Pubic Art Photo-Essay
Examining the relationship between public art, place, and identity can inform our understanding of urban experience. Public art may be used to promote a citys image, as an attempt to revitalize neighborhoods, and as a means to strengthen existing notions of place identity. Geographers have become interested in these issues because they speak to the contexts in which the identities of places are contested and negotiated.
Select a neighborhood with significant public art (at least three pieces) and create a photo-essay that elaborates why the art pieces work so well (or dont) in that place.
Construct a map linking your piece of public art to other things in the community that you feel are associated with the art.
Write a short introduction to the photo-essay (~ 400 words).
There is to be no text on your photo-essay, but the images should answer the following
questions:
History/ Context: The art from cool perspectives. Where is it located? How is it located? What of significance is nearby?
Identity of Place: How does the public art relate to place, identity and at what scale? How does it try to reflect the identity of for example: Barrio Logan, San Diego, southern California, the United States, or the ‘global community? Does it fit the place? Does it promote, strengthen, or reinforce whatever place/identity the art is directed towards by strengthening already existing representations of that place?
Controversy: Can you identify in your photo-essay any controversies about the art? What is the relationship between whom the art is directed towards and the local community? Is it inclusive or exclusive of different identity groups past or present?
