Those of us who live and work in Matlacha really love and
treasure our little, one mile by one mile island. We are conversant with its
history, and how our artist enclave rose from the ashes of the fishing
community that was essentially put out of business by a net ban referendum that
was adopted by voters in the 1990s. And so we wanted a public artwork that
would share our pride and history with visitors arriving by way of the
fishingest bridge in the world.
That’s what I was trying to convey when I
painted The Catch of Matlacha Island on the east wall of the post office
building.
I’ve
heard people object to spending money on public artworks. The criticism is
misguided, and I say that not because I’m an artist, but because I recognize
the value of having public art in our towns, communities and college campuses. Urban
planners and art consultants who’ve studied the subject believe that a vital
and robust public art program:
1.
boosts/strengthens
civic pride;
2.
enhances
and defines a city’s identity;
3.
reflects
the unique character and history of the city;
4.
burnishes
the city’s image to the outside world;
5.
creates
an important positive impression for visitors;
7.
enables
the community to attain recognition as a regional and national leader in the
visual arts;
8.
symbolizes
a community’s maturity;
9.
expresses
the vision of community leaders;
10.
makes
a statement about the community’s values and culture;
11.
elevates
the image of proximately-located corporate enterprises;
13.
creates
visual and aesthetic landmarks;
14.
creates
positive mental images;
16.
enriches
the public environment visually;
17.
makes
the beautification of the city a matter of the highest priority;
18.
enhances
the climate for artistic creativity in the community;
19.
brings
art and art education to the entire community;
20.
create
public art community partnerships linking individuals of all races,
ethnicities, age, genders, professions, and economic levels;
21.
stimulates
our imagination;
22.
promotes
excellence and diversity through a variety of artists and media;
23.
provides
tangible outlets for creative ingenuity;
25.
enriches
the cultural climate of the city;
26.
reflects
and enhances the city’s diversity, character and heritage through the
integration of artworks and designs in the architecture, infrastructure
and landscape on public and private property;
27.
makes
a space seem more welcoming;
28.
creates
a deeper interaction with the place one is visiting or working in;
30.
expresses
shared ideals and concepts;
31.
enhances
the quality of life for residents and property owners;
32.
adds
to the visual quality of life;
33.
engages
the community;
34.
draws
people together and induces strangers to talk to each other;
35.
raises
the level of citizen awareness to the importance of aesthetic and intellectual
experiences in everyday life;
36.
promotes
understanding and awareness of visual arts in the public realm;
37.
makes
a commitment to future generations; and
38.
creates
“human scaling” of open areas by framing the space with various forms of public
art structures.
You
can see these principles in action with respect to The Catch of Matlacha
Island. The mural definitely creates a positive visual impression for visitors,
and many folks today identify it with Matlacha Island. It not only reflects our
unique character and history, it makes a statement about our community values
and culture. In fact, it is a stop on every walking tour of Matlacha Island
that people take throughout the year. In the words of one public art advisory
board, “a town with public art is a town that believes in itself, thinks
creatively and feels deeply.”
If
you haven’t seen our mural, then plan a trip to Matlacha Island. Stay the day.
There’s lots to do and it all starts at Lovegrove Gallery & Garden.
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