Public Spaces
Adams Morgan reviews public art proposals
A few weeks ago, DC released images of three finalists for a public art installation in Adams Morgan, for the newly created public plaza at Adams Mill and Columbia Road.
"Bicycle Musician" by James Simon:
"The 'Bicycle Musician' proposal creates a unique and spectacular large-scale sculpture for the Adams Morgan neighborhood. Depicting a well-dressed musician playing his guitar to the public, while perched on his bicycle. His bike's basket overflows with shopping items such as fruits and vegetables, his soccer ball, and a friendly Dachshund.
The sculpture's composition, like the neighborhood, is diverse, creating a local and international feeling while embracing past and present neighborhood cultures. The bike and music themes are perfect for the strong bicycle culture of Adams Morgan as well as its vibrant restaurant/bar nightlife. The shopping basket is a charming way to tie into the neighborhood's local grocery stores and farmers' markets. ...
The artist is open to color or keeping the sculpture concrete.
"Sunflowers" by Michael Milbourne:
The "Sunflower" proposal captures the heart and soul of the people of Adams Morgan by embracing the full diversity and rich history of Adams Morgan residents and architecture. The sunflower is iconic in many cultures and connects the multicultural feel of Adams Morgan to its' residents and visitors.
The sculpture's composition will become a real joy for the residents and visitors of Adams Morgan; it is something fresh and vibrant while also providing a beautiful and relaxing place to meet. This sculpture is able to creatively combine both public safety and art together.
"Adamor Circle" by Owen Morrel:
The "Adamor Circle" proposal emanates from one circle, a circle whose center is everywhere and whose circumference is nowhere. It is separated into many circles or hoops. Each circle houses divergent organic shapes charged with motion, presence and metaphor. The overriding metaphor is one of forward motion, positive thought and development. Each shape has the potential to fit or join with the others to form a whole which is greater than the sum of its parts.
This work reflects the diverse and rich community history of Adams Morgan and can be used as a tool and a reminder to the community of the power that people posses to work together in concert as do the divergent elements of the sculpture.
| What do you think of these proposals? |
The "Bicycle Musician" seems to lack any public seating, while "Adamor Circle" contains many benches and plantings. "Sunflowers" also looks like it would accommodate seating, as we can see from the sketch showing people sitting on the flowerpot.
38 comments —  Share | — tags: Adams Morgan, arts, public art, public spaces |
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by Phil on May 5, 2009 11:51 am
by Esmeralda on May 5, 2009 11:55 am
by SG on May 5, 2009 12:17 pm
by Bianchi on May 5, 2009 12:27 pm
by Bianchi on May 5, 2009 12:32 pm
by tom veil on May 5, 2009 12:34 pm
by CP on May 5, 2009 12:39 pm
by Bianchi on May 5, 2009 12:46 pm
by ME on May 5, 2009 12:50 pm
by ScottahB on May 5, 2009 12:59 pm
The third one isn't bad, I'd like it a bit bolder. I'd pick this one, but none of them are great in my opinion.
by Vik on May 5, 2009 1:02 pm
by Bianchi on May 5, 2009 1:03 pm
Yes, the first sculpture is painfully embarassing...but is it ART?
by ibc on May 5, 2009 1:45 pm
by Bianchi on May 5, 2009 1:53 pm
Laughable.
by ibc on May 5, 2009 1:59 pm
by Boots on May 5, 2009 2:17 pm
I walk by a big abstract metallic sculpture on my way to Rosslyn almost every day. I wouldn't know how to describe it to someone else. I can't tell someone, "Meet me at the restaurant by the big metal thing in the median." It evokes a vague sense of modernity, but that's about it. Unless you're the Bean, I don't think an abstract metal thing adds a lot to an area.
#1 and #2 are something that people can identify with. I can imagine someone saying, "Oh, is that the coffee shop on the corner with the giant sunflowers?" That said, I'm a bit underwhelmed by both: they're both a bit grotesque by dint of their size. I can imagine, if they're not well lit, either would be pretty creepy at night (don't stumble by that corner when you're drunk/high!).
I'm not familiar with the spot, but #1 and #2 make it look like a corner; #3 looks like a park. That's appropriate: #1 and #2 could fit well on a corner, but #3 belongs in a sculpture garden.
by Gavin Baker on May 5, 2009 2:32 pm
by fsj on May 5, 2009 2:33 pm
If the spot is more like a plaza, as #3 suggests, it might not be bad; it even looks a little pretty at night with the colored lights. It doesn't say "Adams Morgan" to me, though.
I guess I lean to #2. The scale model in the PDF looks fun.
P.S. Why are there never any fat people in design renderings? Only skinny people can enjoy public art?
by Gavin Baker on May 5, 2009 2:40 pm
by Kk on May 5, 2009 3:45 pm
by Adams Morgan on May 5, 2009 4:18 pm
Ever been to the plaza across the street from this site in front of the bank? People sit there all the time. It's a great people-watching spot.
by Juanita de Talmas on May 5, 2009 4:46 pm
by Bianchi on May 5, 2009 5:28 pm
I love the idea of a bike at a scale that overwhelms cars. The Orb is terrible, the Sunflowers are cute, but maybe a bit too innocuous for Adams Morgan.
by Ron Eichner on May 5, 2009 5:35 pm
Boots is right though, a good monument usually has a non-representational object and some figuration, or at least a really interesting object. Drop the opaque allegory and the classicism of Dupont and use a local theme, and that would be a start.
by цarьchitect on May 5, 2009 6:52 pm
by ccort on May 6, 2009 10:46 am
http://www.simonsculpture.com/
by AdamsMorganAnarchy on May 6, 2009 11:36 am
by Libby on May 6, 2009 3:10 pm
by AMDCer on May 6, 2009 7:05 pm
by tina glass on May 7, 2009 1:07 pm
The Adamor Circle is dull and corporate, yuck. I would have to vandalize it because it claims to be "graffiti proof." Who describes great art as "resilient and low maintenance"? I expect the city to pick this piece.
But the sunflowers have really grown on me. That would be seriously unique. They'd look great looking up 18th Street, at the top of the hill. The PDF linked gives a better sense of them. I also don't need benches, and the group of benches across the street is just an outdoor homeless shelter. I would hope they would be tinted.
by Patrick on May 7, 2009 4:03 pm
The first one sounded great in text, but I thought it looked way too cartoony in the pictures. It reminds me of something for kids, not a night-spot strip. I wonder too about the use of a realistic person- what ethnicity, gender, age, etc. would they use? So many groups of people use the space, it is hard to imagine a statue like this that a lot of people could identify with. Maybe if there were multiple people in the sculpture. I think the materials blend in too much with the buildings as well. And small potatoes, but is the guy riding and playing at the same time? Or does he just enjoy straddling his bike will playing?
I think the sunflowers will look cool, but don't really fit the area. I see a sculpture like that on a neighborhood on the outskirts of a park or green space. The stained glass flower idea would add a lot of color and life to the corner, but they are somewhat War of the Worlds tripod-looking (though I think it is just because they are so tall and thin). I like the incorporation of benches in the base. Unfortunately, I keep picturing young drunks throwing things at the stained glass butterflies, or climbing the stems.
by Carrie on May 21, 2009 1:40 pm
Michael Milbourne/DC artist/ Sunflower proposel
I would like to inform the comunity that I presented 2# art
proposels to the DC arts and Humanities. I spent 6 six month doing rescreh on the enter history, cuture,architecture, puplic safety,. I interviewed 23 buiness owner and I also interviewd dozens of people on the street for feed back. There where gide lines for the project and the othe artist and the Adamd Morgan penal did not concider them, they completly over looked 400 yeas of A&M history. "wow" In addition to my puplic interviews I created several detialed illustratios that the DC arts and Humanitied did not even show the citizens "THE SUNFLOWERS" are very coloerful and highly detailed,but you would not know that from the Arts&Humanities web-site.
All the best
Michael
by Michael Milbourne on Jun 26, 2009 1:14 pm
http://greatergreaterwashington.org/image.cgi?src=200905/amart1large.jpg&ref=2268
I am unfortunately not in support of any of the designs and I own a clothing store directly across the street from the proposed art. I prefer the Sun Flowers among what is offered, but still "none of the above" gets my vote. In the community setting "none of the above" was not an option as I recall.
For the Record
I would rather see the $200,000 go into a fund for artists to apply for grants to construct temporary art/events at the corner over a number of years ultimately allowing the funds to support local artists who will come to compete for the grant money. A diverse use of the space, not just one piece of art is simply the best way to use this newly created public space.
I have commissioned a public survey of walk-through pedestrians at the intersection of 18th and Columbia on the Northwest side, my side of the street facing the art. We are going to ask people if they prefer the art actually being proposed or "none of the above." I need to confirm what the design is. If I find that there is strong opposition to the art, the community has failed my business and all of us in the neighborhood that see this as a waste of public space and taxes. If there is decent support then I suppose the process has worked. We need to hear from people who live here.
Are there final designs or as some have suggested to me CONTRACTS in place to build the art? Is this a going to be more transparent? I'm hungry for information. Any assistance in this matter is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Adam Eidinger
Co-Owner
Capitol Hemp, LLC
by Adam Eidinger on Jun 29, 2009 3:45 pm
The flowers are whimsical and although they didn't grab me and I can't stand the models used in the design, it could be cool and kind of refreshing. Even if a little like The Beatles' Yellow Submarine.
The third belongs in a corporate park.
I'm not sure what any of them really have to do with Adams Morgan.
by freestyler on Sep 18, 2009 2:53 pm
by neil perry on Sep 20, 2009 11:55 am
Can all three options be vetoed and sent back to committee? Request something with complexity, a work that will keep you thinking -- and looking.
by Mike Licht on Sep 21, 2009 4:55 pm
constructively yours,
-Nikki
by Nikki Rainbolt on Sep 24, 2009 4:06 pm