11 responses so far ↓

• 1 Diana Lucas Leavengood // Mar 3, 2008 at 4:25 am

  The answer to all four of your questions is “No” with the information about the peanuts being not the truth but what you (and actually all of us) want to hear.

• 2 megan // Mar 3, 2008 at 6:31 am

  #$%@!!! I knew it…

• 3 anon // Mar 3, 2008 at 9:25 am

  I would be interested to know more reactions to ArtLOUD. Was it instigated out of a genuine care for art and working artists, or did it have more pragmatic economic/advertising interests at heart, and perhaps just exploited an adjacency to an arts event to gain legitimacy.

• 4 Taryn // Mar 3, 2008 at 2:51 pm

  artLOUD was designed to be a gift to the City of Tampa and its citizens. artLOUD provides a forum for the public to become engaged in what is one of Downtown’s “developing” areas. Artists participated in an effort to stimulate a downtown dead-zone. In addition to the painted panels on two blocks of North Franklin Street, new landscaping, a fountain, and festive street lighting were installed.

  artLOUD was a dedicated effort by a diverse group of people who came together to rouse the public and city leaders. Public art, public realm, and economic development go hand-in-hand. There is no public art if you lack a public realm. A dwindling economy cannot support public realm spaces. Bringing these components together will allow each to thrive.

  Our downtown is young and growing slowly. The more people who join the “intervention” the faster it will mature, giving vibrancy to Tampa. The artists, individuals, organizations, and companies who donated artLOUD care deeply about the urban environment and were willing to say it artLOUD!

  As Co-Director of the Urban Charrette, I applaud the efforts of artLOUD and was privileged to work with this group of visionaries.

  Did artLOUD propmt you to ask questions?

• 5 Melissa // Mar 3, 2008 at 3:08 pm

  My only contention with the ArtLout experiment is that I saw that call when it went out and it asked for the art to focus on retail. What does that even mean? I saw that no one paid heed to that directive, which was great. The project turned out better than it sounded it might and although I am grateful for any opportunity to get art out there in the public arena, I am often disheartened and stunted by all the limitations often put on ‘public art’..and by that I mean so narrowly controlling content or theme. And I say that excepting objectionable material in plain sight of children, though the FCC places less limits on daily newsbroadcasts and no one seems offended by the violence. what a ramble! Anyway, it was surprising to me to see the art accepted for artLoud against what the call stated.

• 6 Noah Rollins // Mar 3, 2008 at 4:22 pm

  Personally I will admit artLOUD didn’t really prompt me to ask any questions via the art on panels. But I thought the landscaping and sculptural work were both welcome contributions to the betterment of that stretch of Franklin. Does anyone know if there are plans for this consortium to continue artLOUD exercises in various ‘recovering’ areas of our downtown? We certainly don’t have a shortage right now.

• 7 megan // Mar 4, 2008 at 10:22 am

  My perception of artLOUD is that it’s first and foremost an economic development event, though one that plays up its aesthetic component (largely donated by the artists). To circle back to anon’s questions: I don’t really see artLOUD as an event staged out of passion or commitment to art for art’s sake. Art here, though treated with respect, is a means to an end. Interesting to note that some of the event organizers, e.g., commercial real estate agents, have more to gain financially from the achievement of a vibrant downtown than the artists, though we all stand to gain on some level. I think artLOUD may have found a captive audience in Gasparilla-goers, but I doubt it acquired any added legitimacy per se by feeding off the festival; though artLOUD is a “guerilla intervention,” quite a few well-respected folks are involved with the effort.

  As Melissa points out, the artworks are to some extent illustrations of an idea—a bustling retail, office and entertainment district downtown—though most artists took considerable creative liberty with this directive. I particularly liked the fountain and the rather mysterious gray panel painting with the two figures bending toward each other. Finally, I’m with Noah—it would be really interesting to know whether these artLOUD interventions will keep cropping up around downtown. And will they actually get property owners to bring their buildings up to code and offer reasonable rents so that local businesses can both contribute to and benefit from downtown’s (perpetually imminent) resurgence?

• 8 joe griffith // Mar 5, 2008 at 12:04 am

  Thanks Megan for being thoughtful enough to create this blog! other critics can learn from your energy.
  This is a turning out to be the most important forum for the issues that face us as artists,curators, administrators,collectors,developers, you name it .
  OK- now for the darkness- I see the artLOUD project’s attempt to address the revitalization of downtown Tampa’s artistic “potential” as a problematic cycle with no tread beneath it’s wheels. I do not wish to put a bad spin on the nature of the gesture, I just think it’s off the beat. There is a historical misunderstanding between the business community in Tampa and the artistic community and both somehow continue to play their respective music with little harmony.
  I would suggest readers who want some context that i can attest to go to Experimental Skeleton’s Web Site-http://experimentalskeleton.com/Flight%2019.html and scroll down to A Brief History

  There is a bit about downtown there.

  What i find interesting about this project is that it seemed like an attempt to “theme” Franklin St. with works generated by various invited talents. As if to convince a visitor that culture indeed exists as a localized phenomena. A virtual tour of the possibilities of the “Future Franklin St. World” Not a bad idea. However, when the park closes, all the lights go dim and crows pick at the popcorn. It brings to mind the old argument against ( or simply identifying ) the “procession of the simulacrum” where the equivalent image is the only thing needed.
  My point is that there needs to be a deeper commitment by the sponsors of cultural events to build long standing partnerships with artists and artists need to view opportunities such as these with a skeptical eye. Then, maybe a relationship will emerge.

• 9 Linda Chaney // Mar 5, 2008 at 6:05 pm

  I will agree with you Joe that there needs to be a deeper commitment by the sponsors of cultural events. While this project created a wonderful opportunity for local artist to display their talents, not much mention of each artist has been discussed to the community. Being one of the artist for this project, this comes as a disappointment to me as well as many other artists. In additon the artLoud flyer made it seem as if they had another party going on during the Gasparilla Festival.

  Sponsors just don’t understand the time and dedication it takes to create art. How do we help them understand?

  I will give Artloud credit for reaching out to local artists to give Tampa Bay a facelift. This is one step in the right direction.

• 10 Peg // Apr 1, 2008 at 11:03 am

  I for one know this is an upgrade to the area. I dwell in Tampa’s downtown and am so glad to see that stretch become more enjoyable to walk through. It’s something to be proud of rather than coming up with ways to excuse it’s appearance when visitors or potential business owners see it.

  I too applaud the efforts of all those who partook in organizing, funding and sweating for this beautification that they did without any assistance from the local government. I especially applaud the artists. I wish the media paid more attention the weekend the artwork was installed. I was there and did see several media crews there but they never even noticed all the activity going on just beyond the Gasparilla tents. (A little tunnel-visio?)

  I hope they (the city) get on board right away a keep the momentum going.

  On another note: Vandalism will not get the best of these people, they’re determined go-getters that I believe will continue to create a more upscale feel that draws attention.

  I APPLAUD YOU!!!
  Peg

• 11 imaginethatcity // May 16, 2008 at 11:27 am

  I just read these comments and it’s a shame that this group knows nothing about art, or public art for that matter. Real estate agents should stick to realty. This is a true embarrasment to our city scape and far from “upscale”. The execution is juvenile, unprofessional and across the street from one of our “tony” new buildings. How did anyone even allow this to happen? May have been a good idea if professionals were curating it but this display does not have a drop of rhyme or reason behind it. The Participating artists did not get what they were promised. and the only ones that made out on this deal were the people that spearheaded it. They made sure they got their names out in the press but failed to mention much about the artists.
  Also, only reason that they deemed the project a “gift ” is b/c they were aware of all the rules and regulations they were breaking. What a clever way of snaking around and avoiding trouble and a fine. Oh, and on the heels of Gasparilla Festival of the Arts… Pretty tacky considering those artists payed a fee to participate in the Gasparilla Festival. Any true professional would know better than to loot off someone elses talent, art or festival.

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