Living in America comes with certain privileges that make this country as special and thriving as it is.  One of the most unique aspects of the United States is the diversity of people and the cultural influences that come along with it.  As American citizens, we are able to express ourselves in many ways, but more importantly, public ways.  The article “Public Art Controversy: Cultural Expression and Civic Debate” by Erika Doss aims to define what public art is and also explain the elements of it.  Public art does not really have a definition because it is an umbrella term for just about any art that is in a public forum, no matter the style or materials used.  The article does a great job of creating a list of examples that are considered public art, such as murals, lighting, manhole covers, etc.  Doss also says that part of the reason why there is so much diversity in public art is because of the diversity of the viewers (Doss 2).  There is the possibility of millions of people seeing each art piece everyday so it is important to note the many different religions, races, and cultures of all of the potential viewers.

These pieces are often funded by the government but it is not necessarily always the case.  The government has put together organizations to support artwork around communities.  The fact that government money is used for these projects does also add to the controversy.  The article discusses monuments and memorials that have caused division among artists, politicians, and the public.  One that was very controversial was a statue of George Washington dressed like a Greek god.  The statue was eventually moved because of complaints of public nudity (Doss 3).  When art is put on display for millions of viewers, they are extremely susceptible to ridicule and disapproval from viewers.  Of course artists are free to express themselves through art in just about any way as protected by the Constitution.  However, when in public arenas, viewers are not afraid to voice their opinions until they are heard.

The Runquist murals in the Knight Library at the University of Oregon are beautiful pieces of art.  The pieces were funded by the Work Progress Administration in the 1930s.  The Work Progress Administration was funded by the government to encourage struggling artists to create work and get financial help in exchange.  Unlike other pieces that were mentioned by Doss, these murals did not attract as much controversy.  When looking at the murals, I felt that their purpose is to educate.  Not only because they are in the library, but mostly because of the content.  They are titled “Development of the Arts” and “Development of the Sciences.”  “Development of the Arts” is based around how art has evolved and generated from the earth itself.  “Development of the Sciences” takes viewers through different periods throughout history like the Stone Age, Renaissance, and Modern Period.

I think these pieces are evidence that there can be influential public art that is not controversial and does precisely what it was intended for.  They show talent and an educational progression of events in history.  When walking through the library, you expect to see artwork that captures true learning.  I like these murals because they are expression of the artist’s feelings and are able to be in a public place without offending anyone.  This is often the goal of many federally funded organizations that support public art.  They are meant to inspire, educate, and provide a nice piece for people to look at.  These murals are exactly that and that is why they are timeless.