Dinner #1 Forum: Go Public in Private!

By susan - Posted on May 8th, 2007

Included here are thoughts about the flow and content from the guests at the April 13th Individuals in Collaboration dinner conversation you have been part of during the Meet Me at the Table series.

These reflections were captured in the beautifully hand-crafted book by Elena Belle White that will be available for guest comments throughout the series.

Feel free to contribute your own thoughts about these thoughts...it's an unwieldy exchange!

Our assumptions Obviously

Submitted by susan on May 8, 2007 - 6:40am.

Our assumptions Obviously many if not all parts of this conversation touch on incredibly subjective subject matter – but often we keep coming back to points/concerns/questions that make assumptions about the role of public art. What is public art supposed to do/be obliged to do? To what extent must it serve the community (opposed to just being sensitive to it?)

I like the challenge of

Submitted by susan on May 8, 2007 - 6:39am.

I like the challenge of making work that involves and commits others to our citizenship.

I think citizenship implies

Submitted by susan on May 8, 2007 - 6:39am.

I think citizenship implies generosity in that it embraces the wellbeing of others.

What does "good" public art

Submitted by susan on May 8, 2007 - 6:38am.

What does "good" public art reward, other than curiosity?

In response: But of course curiosity is important! Especially as our educational structures and forms of entertainment, movement and interaction become increasingly prescribed.

Words that stand out from

Submitted by susan on May 8, 2007 - 6:37am.

Words that stand out from conversation: gift, shifting relevance, compromise...Anon

The food is great – but

Submitted by susan on May 8, 2007 - 6:37am.

The food is great – but honestly – I can't get enough of this conversation. I need to talk about this stuff a lot and I don't know enough people who will have respectful politically-charged, nuanced dialogue like this…Anon

It is amazing how sometimes

Submitted by guest on May 8, 2007 - 10:27pm.

It is amazing how sometimes I forget that people aren't having these conversations more often. Just last night I had a conversation with a professor from MassArt who was saying how few of her grad students were thinking past the "how can I make a lot of money as an artist?" mindset! That blew my mind!