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Public Art in Puna
#1

Is there a "1% for art" ordinance in Puna requiring new construction on public buildings and projects to allocate one percent of the budget for art, or anything similar to this approach?

Here is a nifty notion I just came across:
Manhole Art: 15 Creative Covers
http://www.oddee.com/item_96779.aspx
A tradition in Japan, manhole covers come in a variety of designs attracting tourists and locals. Meet the wacky, wonderful world of japanese manhole art.

Apart from the pleasant aesthetics, these could be a great opportunity for getting the message out and reinforcing awareness on topics from mosquito and rat lungworm prevention to celebrating cultural heritage.

Likewise, over in Jakarta the big Soviet-style bronze statues in the centers of traffic roundabouts are not only visually interesting but also great as universally known landmarks for giving driving directions. "Starting at Hanzel & Gretel, go to the Sailor and then to Flaming Pizza Man; turn right at the purple house and...." If you want to see two of those statues then go to this site
http://teakdoor.com/indonesia-travel-for...rists.html
and after the images load up (be patient, there are bunches of photos and it may take a minute or two) scroll about two-thirds of the way down and you'll see Flaming Pizza Man followed immediately by Hazel & Gretel. Flaming Pizza Man commemorates the petroleum industry while Hanzel & Gretel is the youth monument.



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It is not our part to master all the tides of the world but to do what is in us for the succor of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till. What weather they shall have is not ours to rule.
J.R.R. Tolkien

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Astonishing skill! This archer is a real-life Legolas and then some!
http://geekologie.com/2013/11/real-life-...rs-anc.php

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#2
Haven't noticed and manhole covers in Puna as there are no public waste water systems in place anywhere in the district to my knowledge.

But it sounds nifty.
Assume the best and ask questions.

Punaweb moderator
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#3
Lets start power pole art, maybe we could use invisible ink and just make them go away.

The Lack



The Lack Toons
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#4
How about a Carhenge? [}Smile][Big Grin]
Puna: Our roosters crow first
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#5

There are all sorts of fun ways art is promoted by a "1% for art" ordinance where such are present. In addition to sculptures in Alaska some buildings have mosaic tilework while others have wallspace devoted to paintings.

A friend sent this link
http://picasaweb.google.com/Awen1980/Eur...9524622738
to a photo showing one of Zurich's many distinctive planters for flowers. Braided bread is a Swiss tradition.



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It is not our part to master all the tides of the world but to do what is in us for the succor of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till. What weather they shall have is not ours to rule.
J.R.R. Tolkien

)'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'(
)'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'(

Astonishing skill! This archer is a real-life Legolas and then some!
http://geekologie.com/2013/11/real-life-...rs-anc.php

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#6

Here are some other nifty examples of community art and public art-

Robert's Creek Mandala
http://www.adpov.ca/mandala/

Patrick Blanc's beautiful living walls and columns
http://www.verticalgardenpatrickblanc.com/

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It is not our part to master all the tides of the world but to do what is in us for the succor of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till. What weather they shall have is not ours to rule.
J.R.R. Tolkien

)'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'(
)'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'(

Astonishing skill! This archer is a real-life Legolas and then some!
http://geekologie.com/2013/11/real-life-...rs-anc.php

)'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'(
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#7
Shouldn't people just seek out or create their own art, rather than some beaurocrat deciding what IS art? I'd hate to see the gov't corner the market on that too.
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#8
No need to fear. We are the Government. And if you don't like the way it is presently constituted, you can change the Government, if you believe in Democracy and Government in the first place.

If you believe in anarchy, may I suggest what's left of Russia? They have a completely unrestrained free market presided over by gangsters, murderers and mobs, all organized along the lines of a corporation. You might also like the border areas of Mexico, where the right to bear arms has been taken to its fullest expression, unless, of course, you count that guy sitting with a fully loaded gun outside the US President's town hall the other day.

I reflected on the difference between government, less government, and no government today. I was in a copy center and a guy ran out with a customer's wallet that he left on the counter. The victim was too stunned to think, so I called 911. Other witnesses saw the guy leave in a faded blue Volvo. The law responded immediately --one came to the store and an APB was put out on the Volvo. The manager ran the surveillance tape, the perp was caught a few blocks away. He claimed he took it by accident. A jury will sort that out.

That is so much nicer than "Oh, please, oh please, oh please.....I hope the police respond" as you sometimes have in Hawaii. The difference?: Government. When it is done right, Government IS public art.

When corporations persuade us to be cynical about government, to eschew it, to deride it and to dismiss it, they are persuading us to give up the only power we have to control our destiny as a district, a state and a nation.

As for actual public art in Hawaii, I am against it. Here's why: 1) The uglier the location, the more public art is needed. Hawaii is beautiful -- it would only detract, 2) The Hawaiian climate is hard on BBQ's, much less public art, 3) All that money needs to go to the police and more substations in Puna.



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#9
Well stated Glen. A thoughtful perspective.

I attended a meeting of the Police Department (Captains and up)in Volcano last week. Raised a number of issues and questions regarding police coverage of crime in Puna.

I understand that the same group will be having a public meeting in Puna Makai sometime soon.

This is worth a separate topic and I will start one soon.

Meanwhile on the subject of public art....

Some research has been done on the potential, in Pahoa Village, to place a series of colorful banners along Pahoa Main Street. These could/would be designed by local artists and focus on the flora of Puna.

The intention is to have something pleasant to take the eye from the horrid scramble of HELCO poles and wiring strewn all over our road(s).

Takes some money and some public determination.

On that theory I enlisted some donations of material and some skilled help from Toby Hazel to create some simple banners for the Pahoa Skate Park. The place was looking like a reform school with all the chain link the county put around it. The banners helped change the tone and feel I think. The donors for those banners were Hilo Steel (galvanized pipe), Fabric Warehouse (fabric) and Pahoa Hardware (stainless steel clamps).

A small step I admit.

Assume the best and ask questions.

Punaweb moderator
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#10

ric has a good point about bureaucrats deciding what is and is not art perhaps not being a great leap forward, yet my understanding is that with "1% for Art" programs the business owner decides what s/he wants as art for commercial construction sites while a committee representative of local stakeholders chooses the winning art from among a range of proposals submitted by local artists when it is a taxpayer-funded project.

Glen is correct about the current way of things in Russia, by the way, in my recent firsthand experience of the place. Grim. I'll have to respectfully disagree about the usefulness of a 1% for art program, though, as without such public works tend to have a rather drab and utilitarian flavor to them. There are all sorts of artistic media which hold up well enough in Puna conditions to be worth the investment. Public art can be comedic, butt-ugly (and thus controversial), or exalted in its beauty --and ask three different people for an opinion on any one installation and you'll probably hear all three opinions and others besides about the same exact piece-- but whatever people think of public art such landmarks become part of the fabric which binds together the community. The narrative or cultural conversation of a community is impoverished without such art in the mix, imho.

Glad to hear about the excellent floral banners idea, Rob. Likewise the decorative banners around the skate park. When I need to purchase galvanized pipe the first place I will check is Hilo Steel, when I am shopping fabric my first stop will be Fabric Warehouse, and likewise a stop at Pahoa Hardware to provision up there before checking elsewhere when buying those sorts of items. Those who step up and tangibly support the community deserve tangible support.


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It is not our part to master all the tides of the world but to do what is in us for the succor of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till. What weather they shall have is not ours to rule.
J.R.R. Tolkien

)'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'(
)'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'(

Astonishing skill! This archer is a real-life Legolas and then some!
http://geekologie.com/2013/11/real-life-...rs-anc.php

)'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'(
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