I suggested a few years ago that SW should just be in Fawick Park, it would make it more accessible to people with special needs and would centralize the program. I still think it is a good idea, and maybe when the new mayor takes over, whoever it is, I can convince them of my idea.

Here is a mockup of my idea.

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UPDATE: Amphitheater picture (H/T – Sy)

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15 Thoughts on “SculptureWalk Park Idea

  1. redhatterb on November 17, 2009 at 10:17 pm said:

    I have wanted to go to the sculpture walk every year, but being I ride paratransit, and have mobility problems I have been unable to do it, because there is no way that I could see the whole thing and know what time to tell the bus to be at a certain location to pick me up to go home. Fawick park would be a really good location.

  2. Red-

    Would you be willing to address the next mayor and council with my idea (in May 2010) with me? I think it is a good idea, not to mention it keeps security easy and makes it a destination. While I think 75% of SW is boring as shit, there are some very, very, nice pieces, and my opinion about them being on street corners is it takes away from the sculptures. Putting them in an open space to be viewed alone is a much better idea instead of making them a backdrop of people smoking cigars and drinking bud light taps. The point of art isn’t to sell food, cigars or billards, the purpose of art is to enlighten people. The JACKASSES who sit on the SW committee don’t get that.

  3. anominous on November 18, 2009 at 12:30 am said:

    David looks like he’s 7 stories tall.

  4. Ghost of Dude on November 18, 2009 at 8:37 am said:

    You’ll probably get shot down.

    The reason the SW isn’t already at Fawick or Falls park is because the current scheme gets people to walk by all the businesses downtown – even if they all close at 6pm.

  5. That’s the problem, most people go see SW when parking is FREE DT, Sundays

  6. Costner on November 18, 2009 at 9:21 am said:

    It is called sculpture WALK for a reason. If you put them all in one place it won’t serve the same purposes.

    The benefits of the existing program are that it is a somewhat entertaining excuse to walk around downtown, and it brings people to the businesses that are there. It also adds some interest to otherwise boring city streets (those concrete planters only do so much).

    I realize it might not work for those with limited mobility, but frankly we can’t design everything for those who aren’t physically able to enjoy it. People can still use motorized scooters and turn it into the sculpture “ride” and a few years back I think they used the trolley to drive by all the sculptures for those who might not be able to enjoy them via walking.

    Besides – you put them in that park and I cam almost promise you vandalism would increase and the number of people who actually view the pieces would decrease.

  7. Not bad, but it ain’t happening. The City is planning to build a canopy at the base of Fawick that will make it more of a bandshell & open air auditorium. If you look in your favorite architect’s Newsletter on page 3 in the lower corner, you can see the renderings. Follow the link:

    http://www.kochhazard.com/News/Newsletter/KH_News_Fall09.pdf

    Now this thing will cost more than $1,000 and it’s one more baby step from smelly cow town to urban enviroment. The ignorami will be out in force to oppose it for those two reasons. My guess is it’s part of the P&R department’s River Greenway improvement plan and an acknowlegment that our downtown area needs to keep moving forward, despite the fact we are too goddamn dumb to advocate building our Events Center there.

  8. Plaintiff Guy on November 18, 2009 at 1:31 pm said:

    Maybe just one more statue, the mayor. Citizens can pull the head off of it after the election for a Sadam style tribute.

  9. Costner-

    Many cities have sculpture gardens, they are very, very popular. Ever been to the Walker in Mpls? The point of art is to culturally enhance, not sell more cigars or trinkets. I think it would actually increase the popularity of SW.

    Sy- You can still have the sculptures and amphitheater in the same place.

  10. Costner on November 18, 2009 at 2:19 pm said:

    I would rather keep the sculpture walk and if the city wishes to purchase one piece of art each year to add to a park like setting so be it.

    I realize the goal of art should’t be to sell more trinkets, but being able to take a leisurely stroll downtown and then stopping off for a bite and doing a little shopping along the way is a good thing. Tie in an installation or two within the Pavilion and you have a more museum like feel to the ordeal.

    Yes I realize the park is only a few blocks away, but I like the idea of stretching the displays out – they each get their own “showings” without no one piece getting a preferential location (at least in my view).

    Besides – more people probably see the sculptures while sitting at red lights than they ever do by walking near them. It might be the lazy way to see art, but at least it is being seen. I’ve actually went on the sculpture walk, but I’ll admit I have never been within 40 feet of the Statue of David.

  11. W3ll L3wis, I think if they move forward on the amphitheater, they shoud be able to book all kinds of shows there, not just Mogen’s freakin’ Heros.

    So if you drop a few hundred grand worth of Art around there, you’ll relegate Fawick to the wine and cheese crowd, as they are the only ones refined enough not to use a sculpture as a urinal, bike rack or an ashtray.

    I think Fawick would be awesome as a mid-range venue for summer time, national touring acts. Close off the street, bring in the fair food, beet tents, loose women, a few douchebags and do an good old street dance.

    Just sayin’.

  12. redhatterb on November 18, 2009 at 9:33 pm said:

    Sy, I realize people with mobility problems can use the electric scooters, etc., if they have one. That still doesn’t help the problem when they have to ride the paratransit buses, and schedule a pick up time to go home. This has to be done at least a day ahead of time. With the sculptures spread all over “kingdom come” that is hard to do. As far as people not getting enough exercise if the sculptures were located in Fawick Park, they wouldn’t be all congested together. Since David has been located there has he been vandalized? I haven’t heard of anything like that happening. Also when it comes to using the paratransit buses on Phillips, a lot of the time there isn’t a decent place for the buses to stop and drop people off and pick them up. I have been on the bus at times when this has happened, and it is probably worse now that they have increased the seating spaces on the sidewalks. The same applies if a person wants to ride the wonderful trolley, you have to get to certain areas downtown to do that. The whole point is that if the sculptures were located in one area it would be easier for a person with mobility problems to see them all and know what time to tell paratransit to pick them up when they are done.

  13. redhatterb on November 18, 2009 at 9:37 pm said:

    13, I would be willing to write a letter to the next mayor and council for you. I am much better at letter writing than speaking.

  14. Red brings up a good point about the another problem with SW, it is too spread out. A lot of pieces get put in places where they never get seen, and the placement committee doesn’t know their asses from a hole in the ground, so they normally put the ‘cutsie’ and ‘religious’ sculptures on the main drag, so it makes the voting and selection process unfair. By putting the sculptures in one location it makes the exhibit as a whole more diverse. Another thing that could be put in fawick park is a kiosk that features all the menus and POP’s of all the Downtown businesses so it would encourage people to walk Downtown. You ever wonder why there isn’t ashtrays and hot dog stands in the galleries at museums? Figure it out.

  15. anominous on November 22, 2009 at 10:10 pm said:

    Will the trolley fit on those paths?

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