 |
Leslie Iwai’s “Sounding Stones” supports a conversation.
|
Our Public Art
As I walk across campus I pass a little bird. It’s no more that 4 inches tall. But perched atop a large sphere it appears Atlas-like to me, lifting up the whole earth with its song. I always get a little boost from that tiny golden bird as I go to sing my own song in the classroom.
Catherine Ferguson’s sculpture simply entitled “Song” has been on campus for a few years now and I’ve passed it in rain and snow, sunlight and darkness. It always shines out and although it is tiny in stature, it represents a big idea to me. It says I’m in a place that values creativity. A place committed to learning, inquiry and enlightened citizenship. Maybe even a place with a bit of whimsy, like many a college campus, where patting that little bird’s head might bring a student good luck on a test. Certainly, a place for public art.
 |
Matthew Placzek’s “Monument to Labor” also honors play.
|
Omaha has come a bit late to the public art game. Maybe it’s because we are a pragmatic lot who haven’t always seen or admitted the utility of such things. But, as a city, we are gaining fast.
The Riverfront and Downtown and their growing residential populations have afforded both demand and opportunity for more public art. Walking from the entrance to the Qwest Center north to the marina will take you past works by dozens of local artists. Stop into the Qwest Center Hilton Hotel and have a look around. The walls of the city-owned facility are filled with paintings and drawings by the artists among us.
But public art is not just visual. For many years the local musicians’ union and city parks department have staged concert series in public spaces and parks around the city. Any public space can become an impromptu stage or concert hall.
This stuff isn’t window dressing for tourists or corporate visitors. Although it helps promote our city, we don’t do it for them, we do it for us. We do it because we value creativity. We do it because we value our artists. We may not always agree, but we do it because it’s our art and our community.
 |
| Detail of Catherine Ferguson’s “Song” on the University of Nebraska at Omaha campus. |
Since its inception Omaha by Design has supported public art. Our goal has always been to help make Omaha more connected, smart, significant, sparkling and fun.
What does connected, smart, significant, sparkling and fun look like?
It looks like our public art.
|
