Smash or Hug the Magic Jug? (Discussion report)
Public Discussion
Smash or Hug the Magic Jug?
Monday 26th April 2010, 12.30pm at PLACE
Discussion facilitated by PLACE
In attendance:
Artists, academics, built environment and heritage professionals, local business owners, students, general public. (30 people).
Points Covered
What will it mean for Fountain Street?
Where would it be placed? Have the practicalities of having this public art on the street been thought through?
There is already a lot of new street furniture on Fountain Street and in other streets nearby. Will this artwork be adding to the clutter?
It was noted that the base will be in line with current street furniture line and not mid-street as thought previously.
Public Art Strategy? Who should be responsible? Commissioning process should be halted until the strategy is in place. Strategy should support local artists.
What were the criteria for this piece of public art?
Can we get a copy of competition criteria/ brief for public art?
Questions over quality of the Magic Jug as a piece of art
Process of reaching the decision of the Magic Jug. There was no option for selection panel to choose nothing.
Negativity of public art in public spaces. Making places less usable.
How can we measure the success of the art?
Money allocation – Could these large amounts of money be invested into temporary art pieces?
Innovative Public art as a temporary intervention – light, sound
Taking examples of best practice from other cities like Berlin.
How can people object to a piece of public art?
Sample of Feedback Comments
“I’m concerned at the process behind the commissioning of this public art work. Where was the public consultation? Was there any? Where did the criteria for the artwork come from? Who set the parameters for the commission? I’d rather wait for an art work of quality…”
“I think the design is insensitive to the surroundings, the scale is completely wrong and the water design is crude. I cannot see how something of this scale can add to an already pleasurable street in Belfast. Surely a sculpture that is more interactive with people would work. The reasoning behind the jug is poor. I feel that the jug is symptomatic of a lack of overall policy or vision about what the role of public art is or can be and how it affects public space.”
“Issues with siting, and the space around it, access etc.”
“The meeting has reinforced the idea to stop this commission and restart the commissioning. The idea is poor on all levels.”
“As part of the Streets Ahead hard landscaping, a defined space for the public art should have been provided for the sculpture as opposed to it being placed on what appears to be at random on the existing and continuous lines along the footpath.”
“What were the criteria for the commission? Who was invited onto the panel – were there any artists? When did the public space/ realm become strategically prioritised for retail? The jug fits into the consumer space – it does not act as art. It acts as an icon on a shopping map! Give us our space back! Public art Strategy? Who has been involved in drafting this?”
“I feel this piece of public art has the potential to detract from the quality of the public space in Fountain Street – which at the moment works quite well as an open pedestrianised area. I’m concerned that this will affect the flow and atmosphere of the area and reduce the amount of space for the public in particular.”
“Like the reference to the fountain history. Dislike the blandness. Dislike the mix of jug and celtic symbol. Disappointed that it isn’t more magic. Would like to see money spent on more daily art (orchestras, opera, performance) or on restoring buildings.”
“I think that the idea of ‘scale’ should have been included in the brief to reflect the size/ use of Fountain Street.”
“Issues that need to be considered include the processes followed towards decision making. ie, who is included on a panel? How and whether public accountability is considered. The question of whether public art works should be temporary and replaceable is important.”
“Local art should be presented by a local artist. Would a fountain with actual water not have been more pleasing and appropriate?”
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Lunchbox Talk: On the road to nowhere? - Wed 18th August, 1pm
PLACE Lunchbox Talks with Bagel:bagel
On the road to nowhere?
Wed 18th August, 1pm at PLACE
Roads and Transport systems shape and form our cities as much as buildings. Roads can link distant places at either end while forming a division on the short distance from one side of the road to the other. We will explore roads and transport policy and initiatives in Belfast and elsewhere with a panel of speakers with broad expertise in various strategic roles. We want to discuss our transport future, coordination, city-making, place-making and integration.
Speakers include: Tom Reid, Director of Transportation Policy, DRD; Bernard Clarke, Head of Research, Translink; Rick Cook, National Cycle Network Manager NI and the Border Counties ROI, Sustrans; and Anne Doherty, Planning and Transport Officer, Belfast City Council
Adm: £5 including lunch provided by Bagel:bagel
How to book: Book online here, email info[AT]placeni.org or phone us on 028 9023 2524.
PLACE Lunchbox Talks explore all things architecture, urbanism, development and beyond. With input from practitioners, community leaders, decision-makers, experts & critics, each event in the series looks in detail at an issue affecting how the city works.
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Lunchbox Talk: Primavera Romana - Wed 11th August, 1pm
PLACE Lunchbox Talks with Bagel:bagel
Primavera Romana – Walking for a U Turn
Common design practices for social change
Wed 11th August, 1pm at PLACE
Primaveraromana is a common design project activated by Stalker in order to generate and share social knowledge and awareness on urban changes. This by sharing, with more and more people, the experience of walking across and mapping the changes of the contemporary roman post urban territories. Primaveraromana is promoting the general states of citizenship together with local communities, associations, researchers and artists, in search of new practices, poetics and politics of coexistence in the emerging byondcity dimension.
Adm: £5 including lunch provided by Bagel:bagel
How to book: Book online here, email info@placeni.org or phone us on 028 9023 2524.
Find out more about Stalker/ON: http://digilander.libero.it/stalkerlab/tarkowsky/manifesto/manifesting.htm
PLACE Lunchbox Talks explore all things architecture, urbanism, development and beyond. With input from practitioners, community leaders, decision-makers, experts & critics, each event in the series looks in detail at an issue affecting how the city works.
Continue Reading…