Artist Karina Kaikkonen discusses her latest installation “We Share a Dream” at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport 10/15/15 [Credit Chris Caya, WBFO, Buffalo’s NPR station]
Last night at the First Friday events in the Anderson Arts Building, in Richard’s studio I had the privilege of watching as the 500th signature so far was submitted at 8:00 pm. Since, there have been 50 more.
As Richard explained, he began the petition with one signature (his) and not knowing what to expect. After the petition — done through change.org — looped its way through social media (and on this site), important conversations about public art have been sparked, in part leading to Spevak’s article (Richard found it to be fair and factually accurate).
Richard Margolis outside his studio in the Anderson Arts Building 5/6/16
Richard, along with others, has long advocated for public art. In 1984, he and others founded Photo Archives Belong In Rochester (PABIR). The effort helped keep archives slated to move to the Smithsonian in Washington where they belong — in Rochester at the George Eastman Museum.
Richard’s message is upbeat and optimistic. While less successful in saving the Hojack Swing Bridge at Charlotte, Richard says advocacy is always worth trying. Many said the archives were sure to go to the Smithsonian, but when people got involved, the archives stayed in Rochester. And look how far the petition and the conversations generated have gone in just a few weeks.
In those weeks, many petition signers included comments:
Several pointed out the aesthetic shortcomings of the airport:
Our airport is gray, boring, generic and unwelcoming.
Advertising flattens the place and turns it into any forgettable, empty, soulless space.
For a small airport, Rochester’s used to look polished and classy. It’s starting to look like a mall.
Some felt the airport does not live up to its name:
It’s a poor excuse for an “international” airport.
The Rochester Airport is not only not international, it is a visual embarrassment.
One commenter, apparently, had read our piece:
Whenever travelling, I check out the art in other airports. Makes us look pretty provincial to paper over our art. Already the airport is only “International” because planes fly to Canada. For some more on Richard and his work with emerging artists see: https://talkerofthetown.com/2016/04/18/airport-art/
One comment summed the situation perfectly, including a reflection on other airports.
I was just at the airport and completely bored with all the grey tile and paint decorated with retail signs. It’s sad to think that it once had a fantastic representation of some of Rochester’s most prominent artists, only to have most of it disassembled. I’ve seen some pretty incredible airports through my travels – good design and architecture, art installations and even performances. Makes layovers much more pleasing.
Perhaps the best comment comes down the road at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport. An October 15th, 2015 article describes a ceremony celebrating the latest public art work in the airport. The installation, “We Share a Dream,” resulted from a partnership between the Albright-Knox Art Gallery and Erie County.
Recently, Buffalo seems to be outpacing Rochester as a cultural and entertainment destination. Dropping the ball on the art in our International airport doesn’t help. Come on pols in dark suits, you too can have the same “ready for take off” photo op in the Greater Rochester International Airport.
from “Jill Gussow’s homage to the raucous crows of the South Wedge”
SEE RELATED BELOW FOR MORE PUBLIC ART AND PUBLIC ART THAT COULD HAPPEN AT EDGERTON PARK AND Jill Gussow’s homage to the raucous crows of the South Wedge
Jill Gussow’s homage to the raucous crows of the South Wedge
Blessing the Boats and a statue where history was made at Edgerton Park
