tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5666195730630249633.post7572300954478490197..comments2024-03-25T17:49:41.408-07:00Comments on Salem Breakfast on Bikes: New Sculpture at Bush Park May be a DudSalem Breakfast on Bikeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15618055627843335993noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5666195730630249633.post-11741593633941631322024-01-22T07:31:26.122-08:002024-01-22T07:31:26.122-08:00(In an artist statement SAA published a while ago,...(In an artist statement SAA published a while ago, the artist said <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sculptural_Ensemble_of_Constantin_Br%C3%A2ncu%C8%99i_at_T%C3%A2rgu_Jiu" rel="nofollow">Brancusi's Column</a> was definitely an influence. It is a sculptural trio also, and of course has the pinched column figure.)Salem Breakfast on Bikeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15618055627843335993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5666195730630249633.post-46217131688618294542019-12-10T18:41:59.565-08:002019-12-10T18:41:59.565-08:00Well, well, well. It looks like there was a little...Well, well, well. It looks like there was a little problem and SAA didn't observe the full City process.<br /><br /><a href="https://www.cityofsalem.net/citydocuments/city-managers-update-2019-10-31.pdf" rel="nofollow">From the October 31st City Manager's Update</a>: <br /><br />"<i>The Cultural and Tourism Promotion Advisory Board approved The Sentinels sculpture installation and awarded Transportation Occupancy Tax funding for the installation at Bush’s Pasture Park. The installation was approved by the City of Salem’s Public Arts Commission and the Salem Parks Advisory Board. Unfortunately, The Sentinels was installed in Bush’s Pasture Park without first obtaining historic design review approval from the Salem Historic Landmarks Commission. Bush’s Pasture Park is a historically significant and contributing feature to the Gaiety Hill/Bush’s Pasture Park National Register Historic District. The project has subsequently caused an adverse effect to the surrounding National Register Historic District. Staff are working with the State Historic Preservation Office to mitigate the impact. State statute authorizes establishing the public mitigation required for adverse effects.</i>"Salem Breakfast on Bikeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15618055627843335993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5666195730630249633.post-4690925060231049252019-09-07T18:47:37.394-07:002019-09-07T18:47:37.394-07:00The SAA did fundraising for this sculpture and &qu...The SAA did fundraising for this sculpture and "we" didn't pay unless you count the grant money they got from the hotel tax (TOT?) or the donors. I could always be wrong, but I seem to recall that donors bought it, plus the grant from tourism $$. The Guidance of Youth is one of those statutes that probably wouldn't even get made today. Here's one little blurb from SalemHistory.net: * * * "Guidance of Youth" at Bush Pasture Park on Mission Street in Salem. It was erected in 1959 to commemorate the 100th year of statehood. It is the result of a bequest from Carroll L. Moores, a janitor at the Supreme Court Building, to the City of Salem in memory of the early Oregon pioneers. The first choice for the memorial was a nude woman called ""Venus Victorieuse"", which was unacceptable to the public, and this statue was the result of a contest for another subject. It depicts a father carrying a hoe, and a mother and young son dressed for their trek to a new land. The statue faces east! The sculpture was by Avard Fairbanks of Salt Lake City. The photo is from the Hugh Stryker Collection." <br /><br />Everyone's a critic. It was ever thus. Even I, who know zero about sculpture, have opinions. Heaven forfend that we should have nude women in our park! Better a father carrying a hoe. ;-)Cchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14285913923749624922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5666195730630249633.post-12577554078669986922019-09-04T08:31:56.803-07:002019-09-04T08:31:56.803-07:00The SJ offers a little bit of an interpretation:
...The SJ offers a little bit of an interpretation:<br /><br />'"Sentinels" honors the people who helped the art association get to today. It's a contemporary piece featuring three components of varying heights made out of structural steel.<br /><br />"The sentinels are looking to the future (and) represent those who have passed the baton over a hundred years," Burnett said.'<br /><br />https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/life/2019/09/04/salem-oregon-art-association-anniversary-centennial-event/2074590001/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5666195730630249633.post-39478841190367607392019-08-27T13:16:19.633-07:002019-08-27T13:16:19.633-07:00(SAA deleted the old tweet and tweeted a revised v...(SAA deleted the old tweet and <a href="https://twitter.com/SalemArtAssoc/status/1166416697881792512" rel="nofollow">tweeted a revised version</a>, confirming that it's "Sentinels.") Salem Breakfast on Bikeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15618055627843335993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5666195730630249633.post-44255300737836613232019-08-27T03:11:15.670-07:002019-08-27T03:11:15.670-07:00Rush surface? As in when you touch it or rub up ag...Rush surface? As in when you touch it or rub up against it, you get covered in rust? Ewe! No thank you!<br /><br />What I dislike is not just the art that we are getting, but the fact that it is getting sprung on us. We pay for this scape metal stuff, right?Susann Kaltwassernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5666195730630249633.post-55869569680725931802019-08-25T20:22:40.076-07:002019-08-25T20:22:40.076-07:00A couple thoughts:
(1) You wrote: "What is i...A couple thoughts:<br /><br />(1) You wrote: "What is it with the surveillance theme? The Eye of Salem-Sauron at the Police Station and now "Sentenals"/Sentinels?" It's important to realize that Sentinels was commissioned--I believe--before the voters even approved the police station and that it was commissioned by Salem Art Association which did not commission The "Eye of Sauron." You may have a point about the preferences of arts decision-makers in Salem or maybe art trends in general, but it was too different groups at somewhat different times that made the two decisions. <br /><br />(2) You wrote: "As for it as an instance of metal work, the bike racking right there is old "toast" rack, wheel-benders, and it might have been nice for a little of the metal budget to go to an upgrade there." Good grief yes! The bike rack is depressing. <br /><br />(3) You wrote: "Why here? How does this relate to Bush Park or the Bush family? It's like random art installation." It's not random, it's literally across the entrance to the Salem Art Association. Art doesn't have to celebrate the Bush Family." <br /><br />Visually, I think it's engaging and is a nice contrast to the natural environment. The larger question is whether to continue the trend to add sculpture to the park or say with this new project, the Rooster in the barn's foundation bed, and the eurocentric and patriarchal Guidance of Youth sculpture (which certainly speaks to a moment in OR history): enough.MikeSlaterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12268542369885405628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5666195730630249633.post-62072918169217038912019-08-25T13:13:18.727-07:002019-08-25T13:13:18.727-07:00I meant "the number of places is legion."...I meant "the number of places is legion." Forgive poor proofing. Cchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14285913923749624922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5666195730630249633.post-91892428141233903482019-08-25T13:11:51.420-07:002019-08-25T13:11:51.420-07:00I am a member of SAA. I received an invitation to...I am a member of SAA. I received an invitation to the opening for "Sentinels" (as it says on the card, not "Sentinals"). <br /><br />From 5 to 5:30 there's a meet and greet with the sculptor. (SAA members only)<br />5:30 (free and open to the public) is a dedication by Mayor Bennett<br />6-8 PM (free and open to the public) Exhibition reception for the opening of a show at the Bush Barn. <br /><br />My interpretation of Sentinels near the playground was more in the nature of guardian figures. I am not a lover of abstract metal sculpture and I don't know anything about this piece. I thought the notion of guardians near the playground was sorta cool and appropriate.<br /><br />The places in Salem that need more and better bike racks is legion! The one at the library is frequently full. That's my pet peeve. <br /><br />Thanks for your great blog.Cchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14285913923749624922noreply@blogger.com