May 23, 2008

Beauty in the Public Square

Justin Katz

I must say that I'm sympathetic to RI State Council on the Arts Director Randall Rosenbaum's point regarding arts in the public square:

Artists and advocates such as Rosenbaum emphasize that art is not just about being obviously beautiful; it's also about opening the people's eyes to new interpretations of beauty.

I happen to think that the public square would be much edified by a beautiful artistic interpretation of the Trinity.

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I like all kinds of art. I just don't want to pay for it. Musicians get day jobs as teachers and carpenters to feed their face when their art can't. Why do 'artists' get to be bohemian all day every day and make the taxpayers fund their art?

Posted by: Greg at May 23, 2008 2:07 PM

Justin, stop trying to make trouble. You know that real art can only be secular.

Posted by: Monique at May 23, 2008 6:06 PM

Monique-I hate to say you're wrong,but religious symbols can appear in publicly funded art-with one proviso-they must be defaced or ridiculed.

Posted by: joe bernstein at May 23, 2008 7:09 PM

Hey, let's impose a state religion while we're at it.

Posted by: rhody at May 23, 2008 9:50 PM

Hey Justin,
There are so many trinities, which did you have in mind? Here are a few suggestions: Krishna, Shiva and Vishnu; Marx, Engels and Hegel; Lambert, Hendricks and Ross; Socrates, Plato and Aristotle; Moe, Larry and Curly; Hegge, Parsley and Robertson; Tinkers, Evers and Chance; Abraham, Jesus and Mohammed.
OldTimeLefty

Posted by: OldTimeLefty at May 23, 2008 9:52 PM

OTL,

I think I'd be interested in seeing that gallery show.

"The Trinity" now at RISD.

Posted by: Greg at May 23, 2008 10:25 PM

I'd go for an exhibit of "The Heroic Trio"-Maggie Cheung,Michelle Yeoh,and Anita Mui :))
OTL-Okay,I'll bite-who are Lambert, Hendricks,and Ross?Sounds like personal injury lawyers.

Posted by: joe bernstein at May 23, 2008 11:28 PM

Dave Lambert, Jon Hendricks and Annie Ross were a jazz vocalist group circa late '50's or early 60's. Try this for a treat.
OTL


Posted by:
OldTimeLefty at May 24, 2008 7:45 AM

P.S.
Joe,
Cheung,Yeoh,and Mui are nice additions to the pantheon. You got me on that one!
OTL

Posted by: 0ldTimeLefty at May 24, 2008 7:56 AM

Justin,

If you're up in Warwick some night (Rt 2) swing by the Kent Count courthouse. The beauty of the public square is lit up like a Vegas casino 24/7. It's a wonder those poor birds can sleep at all. lol
Talk about wasted taxpayer dollars. Crazy Frank W says the Vegas lighting is about security. Exactly who is trying to break I-N-T-O a courthouse?

Posted by: Tim at May 24, 2008 10:01 AM

Rhody,

Rhode Island already has state sponsored religion and atop it sits a Trinity: the state job~the state pension check~the low number license plate.
Where have you been? lol

Posted by: Tim at May 24, 2008 10:14 AM

Justin
Not on my Dime, please

Posted by: cosmo at May 24, 2008 5:44 PM

OTL-well,nice to be non-political for a change-I am surprised I didn't know the jazz people-I was a big jazz fan in that period_ iactually had some schoolmates whose fathers were well known-Kenny Dorham,who played with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers,had two daughters,Leslie and Keturah who were in high school with me,as well as Shelton Hemphill's son,Barry.hemphill played with Ellington.His son went on to be the Sergeant Major of the US Army Band.I got to see a lot of the great jazz musicians when it cost next to nothing.One night Coltrane was playing in this small joint and in walks Roland Kirk wearing his collection of horns and it was quite a scene.

Posted by: joe bernstein at May 24, 2008 6:47 PM

Joe
We grew up together separately as far as jazz goes. Nice R.I. connection for you! I caught Coltrane while I as in the Army in Washington, D.C. - greatest music night I ever experienced. While I was in college I was involved in recording street singers and musicians in the Philadelphia area. Love dem blues.
OTL

Posted by: OldTimeLefty at May 24, 2008 7:02 PM

"Not on my Dime, please"

Actually, cosmo, that's the sentiment of many about publicly funded art. Especially in Rhode Island, where we are running a half billion dollar deficit despite being the fourth highest taxed state and local governments are horrified at the thought of a level tax rate, never mind a tax cut. (Whoops, someone talk them off the ledge.)

Posted by: Monique at May 24, 2008 8:08 PM

Sorry Tim, I only have one (the two-number, two-letter license plate I inherited from my grandfather, who got it 85 years ago). Even those became gold long before the state changed the plate numbering system.
He had no political connections I know of - I don't think he even bothered voting.
My uncle was given a two-number POW plate after returning from Italy during WWII.

Posted by: rhody at May 24, 2008 11:40 PM

Garlic, onion, & peppers.

Posted by: Phil at May 25, 2008 8:44 AM
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