Here’s career curmudgeon Andy Rooney, a self-proclaimed no-nothing boob, ranting about public art during his “A Few Minutes With Andy Rooney” segment on 60 Minutes from January 2nd, 2005.
via Urban Prankster
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
While I do agree that Rooney is generally a know-nothing boob, IMHO, most of that “art” shown in this segment really was rather awful.
Some artist with half the sense of Rooney should submit nothing as their work when commissioned to do one of these public art pieces. I mean literally nothing. Put a little sign on the ground that says, “Nothing” 2008. Sir Artimus Artsalot
I suppose it has probably been done.
I found a BIG flaw in this piece. The Bum Clown in tu-tu is NOT public art! It has been up for YEARS on the front of a building in LA. A privately owned piece – more advert than enlightening.
That is like bitching about Big Boy, Doggie diner heads, or the Giant Donut…..which, by the way, are wonderful pieces of cultural Americana kitch…..Quite like Rooney, himself.
I do agree that some public art is ridiculous and he picked up quite few examples here but some of it is really tasteful. My local city of Norwich in the UK did an outdoors exhibition of fibre-glass elephants painted by local artists which went down really, really well locally and many families enjoyed following the trail. Other examples of popular British public art are the B of Bang in Manchester or the Angel of the North near Newcastle. the road-sign sculptures in Cardiff and my personal favourites; Anthony Gormley's amazing metal men on London landmarks and a beach near Liverpool.
Maybe Britain is better at public art than America. Maybe not.
I think a great piece of public sculpture could be created by shooting and stuffing Andy Rooney, then placing him in a plaza – rearing up with fangs flashing and talons raised high in the air, about to fall and cleave the onlooker in two. Then I would have the right to do something crazy.