According to the article “ Public Art Controversy: Cultural Expression and Civic Debate”, Erica uses Jack Becker’s words to states the definitions of public art and it is “Public art is artwork in the public realm, regardless of whether it is situated on public or private property, or whether it is acquired through public or private funding. Public art can be a sculpture, mural, manhole cover, paving pattern, lighting, seating, building façade, kiosk, gate, fountain, play equipment, engraving, carving, fresco, mobile, collage, mosaic, bas-relief, tapestry, photograph, drawing, or earthwork”(page 2).  From this definition, we can find the diversity of public art. This definition also reminds me of the murals painted by Albert and Arthur Runquist. These two murals show the development of the sciences and the development of the arts separately. From these two murals, we can know the evolution of arts and sciences. When I saw the murals, obviously I can find that there is a connection between arts and sciences. I also remembered that our last class and it talked about remix. People use digital technology to create something different based on old things. I believe this is a perfect combination of arts and sciences during our times. In the meantime, the murals depict figures and ideas about race and ethnicity that reflect the social norms of the time they were created.

We can see murals in many places. China is a country with two thousands years of history. When I travel to different cities in China, I can appreciate different kinds of murals. Some murals show me the history of the city. Some murals state the spirits of Buddhism. Some just tell me something about life through telling stories. From these murals, I can know a lot of things that I never knew. I believe murals can build a conversation between different people. In the article “ A city uses murals to bride difference”, Jon tells a story about mural at the beginning. A city official suggested residents of racially divided neighborhood work together to paint mural with the theme of racial unity. In a series of community meetings, the black and white residents begin to work together. Then the mural, titled “ The Peace Wall” completed and it depicts a dozen hands of different ethnicities overlaying one another on a sky-blue background. This mural makes people from different culture believe that they can work together and they can build a better relationship than before. Erica also says “ Public needs, public participation, and public responses are all key to the making and meaning of today’s public art” (page 6). From the mural, people can feel the strength of uniting. Murals can create a bride between different people and promote them to think.

Public art is controversial and as a kind of public arts, murals are also controversial. This is because different people have different background, tastes, interests etc. These series of differences led to the controversy of murals. In addition, in the article “ Public Arts Controversies”, Roxana uses Bob Lynch’s words to say “In most cases what put people in a tizzy is location, funding, durability, safety, effect on property values, traffic patterns and other unsexy logistical issues” ( para 2). From these, we can find that there are a lot of reasons can make public arts or murals controversial.

I believe the existence of controversy is inevitable and we cannot eliminate it. Also, with the development of technology and science, people can use new ways to create murals and these ways can make their work more efficient. It is more possible that this improvement can bring new controversies. However, these controversies don’t impact the effect of mural. Just like Roxana says in his article “ It’s good for arts to make us think, to give us a shared experience that creates a dialogue, makes us talk to each other, including strangers” (para 8).

References:

Doss, E. (2006). Public Art Controversy: Cultural Expression and Civic Debate. New York: Americans for the Arts.

Hurdle, J. (2008, October 6). A City Uses Murals to Bridge Differences. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/07/us/07mural.html?_r=0

 Popescu, R. (2007, December 27). Public Art Controversies. Newsweek.