Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 01/09/2025

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pedestrian places, like playgrounds and shopping malls, along highways and the ordinary junctures of life. Even when its purpose is to celebrate heroism and transcendence, it aims to speak to common people and is meant to bring them together." Public art is part of the public realm and as such, has enjoyed a history of controversy almost since its inception. The fact that all can view it, necessarily opens it up to public criticism, especially if funded by public tax dollars. Doss (1995) argues that the rancor and fierce public debate associated with public art". . .is a sign that Americans still hold out for the possibilities of cultural democracy." Rosalyn Deutsche (1996) writes in Evictions:Art and Spatial Politics about the debate regarding the definition of"public" among art, architecture, and urban critics. She describes public space not just in its physical sense,but connected to deeper philosophical questions, such as, what does it mean to be human, what is the nature of society, and what kind of political community do we want? However, in spite of these debates about the ultimate meaning of public, a common theme emerges. That is, "supporting things that are public promotes the survival and extension of democratic culture." (Deutsch 1996, p. 269) The conflict of the two terms "public" and "art" are evident in the literature and represent concepts from two separate worlds. Deutsche uses this quote from Paul Allen to describe this inherent conflict: "The very notion of"public art" is something of a contradiction in terms. In it, we join two words whose meanings are, in some ways, antithetical. We recognize "art" [in the 20th century] as the individual inquiry of the sculptor or painter, the epitome of self- assertion. To that we join "public."A reference to the collective, the social order, self- negation. Hence, we link the private and the public, in single concept or object, from which we expect both coherence and integrity." (Deutsche 1992, p. 280) This research focuses on public art that is facilitated and implemented by public agencies, specifically local government at a small city level. A standard definition that is used in public art 26