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Now that the University master plan has been approved and about $500 million in
bond funding is coming to Carolina, the campus is on the brink of unprecedented
renovation and new construction.
And it's now that a diverse group of faculty, students, administrators, alumni,
locals citizens and public art experts are putting their heads together to
devise a plan for art to enrich these improvements and to enhance what is
already here.
They're talking about art as we're used to seeing it in venues like the Ackland
Art Museum and the Allcott Gallery -- but they're also talking about art in
places we may not be accustomed to seeing it.
Public art can be anywhere, they'll tell you. And it can be in any medium.
Amy Brannock, director of Arts Carolina, is heading up this planning process,
and so far, two seminars have been held -- one in November and one in December
-- aimed at examining public art elsewhere and its possible implications for
Carolina. A third is planned for Jan. 12. Three more are in the works for
spring.
It is an appropriate time to explore the creation of a public art master plan
for the campus, Brannock said. Chancellor James Moeser has expressed his
support for and interest in this idea. And in two meetings convened by the
Institute for the Arts and Humanities, faculty, staff and potential donors
discussed public art with the belief that there are untapped financial
resources for projects on campus.
It is Brannock's vision, and the vision of the planning committee, that the
University has the opportunity to "devise a plan for art and become a model
among public universities nationwide."
She sees the possibility of the campus as "an art museum with no walls, no fees
and no hours posted, making art an integral part of the UNC experience."
Public art on the Carolina campus has a checkered past. Brannock described it
as a "complex history that includes a range of emotions from affection to
bemusement to anger," citing "Silent Sam" and "Student Body" as works that have
elicited strong responses from viewers.
Arts Carolina is coordinating the series of six public-art planning meetings,
which are sponsored by the Office of the Chancellor, College of Arts and
Sciences and Arts Carolina. They are financially supported by funds from
Carolina Seminars, the North Carolina Arts Council and a private donor with
special interest in public art.
As described by Brannock, the goals of the planning process are:
* To explore the feasibility and scope of a comprehensive public art program on
the Carolina campus;
* To establish administrative and financial resources to oversee a public art
program;
* To develop a framework of policies and procedures to guide the acquisition
and siting of artwork;
* To integrate public art goals with other campus goals and administration;
and
* To engage the Carolina community of faculty, students, administrators, alumni
and townspeople in the planning process.
"The process will explore new trends in public art; provide a venue for
information exchange, expanded discourse, critical discussion; and provide a
focal point for pan-campus planning of a comprehensive public art program,"
Brannock said. "We will develop a written report to the chancellor with
recommended strategies for the stated goals."
According to Brannock, the first meeting on Nov. 17, 2001, illustrated the
broad range of existing public art projects. The successes and pitfalls of
public art were examined through various national projects. Discussion included
brainstorming about the possibilities on campus.
A list of topics for discussion was compiled at the November meeting that will
be important to consider throughout the planning process.
The list reflects the intelligence, awareness and sensitivity with which the
committee is approaching this project. Telling examples from the list are:
* Why do projects fail? What makes a successful project? What can we learn from
failure?
* How is public art funded?
* How do we be inclusive and representative of diversity?
* How can public art transcend acrimony in town?
* Is public art's responsibility to solve social problems?
* Who will do quality control? Should there be any quality control?
* For a traditional campus like Carolina, how do we advocate for a full range
of public art styles integrated into the campus?
At the January meeting, the committee will begin to develop a mission for a
public art program on campus and begin to discuss policy issues of artwork
selection and funding, Brannock said.
For more information, call Jim Hirschfield, professor and assistant chair for
studio art, at 962-0724.
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