Written Assignments: Issues in Public Art - Assignment Example

Issues in Public Art: The Running Fence Project and The Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial There are usually quite a number ofissues in public art. It is quiet expected that public art may not always meet the wishes of the entire public since every individual has a perspective on what he/she thinks is the best. In some cases, the issues are just a matter of logistical or special challenges. The running Fence Project by Christo and Jeanne Claude (1972-1976) and The Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial by Maya Lin (1982) are two examples of public arts that have provoked various issues in the public domain.

The Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial was made in the most unconventional way of the 20th Century art. Lin opted for a deviation from glass to granite and adopted a V-shaped design. At the opening of the memorial, the public had different issues with the art. There were concerns that the memorial appeared to have been designed in the exact opposite of the conventional art designs then. Some critics sought to compare Lin’s design with the towering Washington Memorial and rebuked it based on dissimilarity.

There was also a general public opinion that the tender was awarded to an Asian American during a time when there were emotive issues about the Southeast Asian war (ODoherty 22). Besides, there were also some other people who took issued with the specific designs of the artistic design. One such person was one veteran, Tom Carhart, who maintained an opinion that he preferred color was not in tandem with how the war heroes should be commemorated. He was very particular in his submissions after taking the matter to the courts that the black color was not appropriate.

He had submitted that color was a mark of shame and sorrow and that the best way to remember the veterans should not be in such a style. Even, there were his fellow veterans who saw no problem with the designs color. The courts maintained the color was okay. A visit to the memorial usually evokes various emotions. On the other hand, The Running Fence Project by Christo and Jeanne Claude had its unique issues in the public domain. The artwork was constructed ran quiet a long distance, cutting through private ranches all the way to the Pacific Ocean.

The artwork presented a challenge on how to deal with the issue of permission from the 59 ranchers on whole land the art traversed. This was particularly a challenging bit since the artists were not famous then. The ranchers had granted their permission for the art to run through their rural San Francisco property. Apart from the ranchers, the artists had a tough time with the local authorities and environment protection agencies. For the first time in the history of art, the Running Fence had to be preceded with an environmental impact assessment.

This was never heard of in works of art. Probably this was because Christo and Claude were moving away into the unchartered waters of an expansive multi-styled and multi-technique outdoor art. However, these issues were finally overcome and the art was out for display. Running Fence has passed as one of the greatest pieces of public art in the 20th Century (Sofarelli 35). As one may observe, public art tend to have issues as the public have different expectations in many cases. Even so, both The running Fence Project by Christo and Jeanne Claude (1972-1976) and The Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial by Maya Lin (1982) have triumphed.

Works CitedODoherty, Brian G. et al. Christo and Jeanne-Claude: Remembering the Running Fence. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2010. Print. Sofarelli, Michael. Letters on the Wall: Offerings and Remembrances from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Washington D.C.: Smithsonian, 2006. Print.