My background training involves studies on various components of contemporary art and design. Public art as envisioned by Freedman, combines the interests of various stakeholders including artists, local communities, urban planners, city agencies as well as both private and public organizations (Freedman 6). I am interested in understanding the effectiveness of public art in education, creating awareness as well as social identity of communities and uniqueness of towns.
Most communities desire to have an identity especially relating to their areas of residence and their icons such as the totem poles of Vancouver (Fales Library and Special Collections).
However, in the contemporary setting, the major challenge to art is the threat of potential bias by artists and designers who frequently use unconventional means and hybrid strategies to influence judgment (freedman 19). As such, there is need to investigate the effectiveness of public art and the role of communities in coming up with materials that can be placed in the artwork to facilitate social identity.
It is through a clear understanding of the historical contextualization of art by communities coupled with rigorous scholarly research that we can accurately understand its effectiveness in appealing to the public about various issues of community concern and identity (Fales Library and Special Collections).
Thus, by doing more research on effectiveness of the information contained in the public art in promoting social identity or creating awareness, appropriate decisions can be made. In addition, it will enrich the existing body of knowledge in field of art and design.
Works Cited
Fales Library and Special Collections. Fales Library and Special Collections: Guide to the Public Art Fund Achive. 2012. Web.
Freedman, Doris. Ten Years of Public Art. New York: Public Art Fund, 1982. Print.