Critical Issues in Public Art: Content, Context, and Controversy

315 pages; b&w illustrations. American monuments, murals, memorials; politics and patronage; public response. Twenty-two artists, architects, historians, critics, curators, and philosphers explore various works of public art and state the importance of understanding the context of creation. Clean thoughout; tight binding.

From Publisher:

In this groundbreaking anthology, twenty-two artists, architects, historians, critics, curators, and philosophers explore the role of public art in creating a national identity, contending that each work can only be understood by analyzing the context in which it is commissioned, built, and received. They emphasize the historical continuum between traditional works such as Mount Rushmore, the Washington Monument, and the New York Public Library lions, in addition to contemporary memorials such as the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Names Project AIDS Quilt. They discuss the influence of patronage on form and content, isolate the factors that precipitate controversy, and show how public art overtly and covertly conveys civic values and national culture.

Complete with an updated introduction, Critical Issues in Public Art shows how monuments, murals, memorials, and sculptures in public places are complex cultural achievements that must speak to increasingly diverse groups.

Product Info

ISBN: 1560987693

ISBN-13: 9781560987697

Publisher: Smithsonian Institution Press

Year: 1998

Type: Used

Binding: Softcover

Seller Info

UltramarineBooks

Address: 44 South Portland Ave Brooklyn, New York

Website: https://www.ultramarinebooks.com

Country: United States