abouTown Press- Bryan & College Station, Texas

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Origins of Public Art in B/CS
By NIKA HANCOCK

What is Public Art? Author Scott Burton writes, “It is, in my definition, art that is not only made for a public place but also has some kind of social function.”

Padriac L. Fisher, Executive Director of Arts Council of Brazos Valley (ACBV), states that “there are studies that show that communities that have works of public art tend to have lower crime rates and less garbage.”

Public art in the Bryan/College Station area has proliferated in the last ten years, not as a crime and trash deterrent, but more as a developmental tool. Again, the reasons are economic, social, and political. ACBV recognizes that public art promotes tourism and raises property values. ACBV collaborated with the two cities and local businesses in arranging many public art installations. Our area has experienced significant population growth and has become more socially aware of the benefits of public art, and more receptive to art concepts.

Although the populous may be more receptive to art in general, there is always talk among citizens and officials alike as to what art pieces they prefer. Some people prefer the representational art—more realistic sculpture like Lynn Haste’s 2007 bronze installation called “Treasured Moments” located outside the Carnegie Library in Downtown Bryan. On the other hand, many citizens enjoy the esoteric and abstract pieces such as “Eternal Winds” located on Eastgate, which also serves as the Arts Council logo.

Fisher has received both positive and negative comments about various ACBV art installations; however, he feels that what is really important is that not only do they give people something beautiful to look at, “they are often topics of discussion.”