Thea Hyde Unit 3 Public Art

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What is Public Art? Public Art is part of our history and our culture. It is artwork that has been commissioned and designed for the general public to be able to access, not necessarily meaning it is placed outdoors but accessible for everyone. It is used to transform or improve the environment specifically commissioned for the community, with its surroundings almost becoming part of the artwork itself. Some pieces are made to dominate an environment whereas others are made to blend in. There are many factors that artists creating public art have to take in to account such as where it is going to be placed, if it is going to be outside then they need to take in to account the weather conditions and the material they will be using. They also need to figure out how much space they have so they can know the height and width of the sculpture. Finally, they need to know who their audience is and whether there is a specific target audience. Public Art comes in a variety of different forms and shapes. Examples of this include decorative art, sculpture, photography, architecture, moving images and events. You can find public art anywhere in the public domain. Public art also very much focusses on the individuality and the talent of the artist and how they can either improve the space they are given or even redevelop it giving it a new meaning. Also, community buildings such as schools, shopping centres, hospitals and sports complexes can all accommodate public art such as textiles and furnishings. You can find it permanently integrated in to the rural environment on large scales. However, some of these pieces of Public Art are unfortunately damaged or stolen and just left with elements. Who is Public Art for? Public art is usually sponsored by a variety of different public agencies. The word ‘Public’ is very much associated with the lower/working class society e.g. public schools, public housing and public transport. Whereas the word ‘private’ is associated with the more privileged and upper class e.g. private schools and private transport. Public Art, however, is for anyone. It causes controversy due to the difference of people’s opinions on the work. Having a variety of different opinions is inevitable and also healthy, the art is getting noticed and appreciated rather than being ignored. What is Art for? As the society we live in evolves objects such as Public art carry significant meanings or messages and are usually used to celebrate either a person or an event, or commemorate a certain date or event. Some have religious or social significance and isn’t necessarily appealing to all the community, again, causing controversy. Sculptures and other landmarks provide tourists with areas of cultural interests as many have been there for centuries. An example of this is the Uffington


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