The arts have always been a big part of my life. My parents were very active in the art in public schools campaign, and as a result we had plenty of funding for school art programs as I was growing up. I loved it all. I loved drawing, painting, and working with clay. My favorite thing, however, was metal sculpture. From the first time I got to try it in eighth grade, I couldn't get enough of welding. Everything about it was thrilling. I loved the substantial pieces of metal that I would attach together. I loved the big arcing flame and the sparks flying. I loved the heavy mask that I had to wear.
In the long run, it was only natural for me to become involved in public art. After all, it was my one driving passion. I was never a very good painter, and I was only a so-so sketch artist. Sculpture, however, was my forte. I was actually making public arts before I was 18 years old. I won a contest with one of my sculptures, and as a result it was put in the town square for two weeks! At the time, I thought it was the pinnacle of my success. I thought it couldn't get any better than that. Fortunately for me, it did.
There is a lot of fighting in the public art world. No two people can quite agree what art in public should consist of. For a lot of people, anything that people decide to put up is art. Graffiti art, for example, can be very beautiful. Although there are public art displays by graffiti artists commissioned by cities, many of these artists don't wait for permission. They simply put up their murals on empty urban walls and get away before they can get busted.
Other people have a much more exclusive view of public art. They believe that every sculpture should be carefully designed to fit an urban plan. Public outdoor sculptures – at least according to these type of people – should be designed to be aesthetically pleasing and inoffensive. Usually, they don't like anything daring, shocking, or cutting edge. For them, public art is something that offends no one's standards. I have never seen it this way, however. I think art should have something to say. If it doesn't, what is the point? I'm not saying that art should offend, but from time to time it will.
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