The Sunday, April 14th Idaho Statesman has a column titled Tim Woodward: Enough public art fiascos, thanks. In his article, Woodward suggests that Boise may have the corner on Idaho’s tasteless art market.
Wrong, southern Idaho spud picker!
At least in the genre of “art to puke by after bar break,” Coeur d’Alene has blown by Boise and left it in a steaming crack.
Right in downtown Coeur d’Alene at 6th and Sherman we have artist Jason Sanchez’s work titled “Art & Soul” or as some have called it, “Man Urinating in Paint Bucket.”
The sign next to “Art & Soul” informs Coeur d’Alene’s art community that Mr. Sanchez is willing to let this representative piece of Coeur d’Alene art go for a mere $9,600. From the bottom of my heart, I sincerely hope that someone from Boise will buy it and promptly display it there. Until that happens, Coeur d’Alene will retain its title as “#1 Tasteless Art City in Idaho.”
Hey wait one spud pick’n minute. That is one of the best pieces de art I have seen placed in downtown Cda! The piece de art reveals the precise use of bolts and washers and displays a textbook likeness, as I vaguely recall, of a human skeleton. It is an energetic combination of brilliant colors intermixed with dramatic flair. Upon closer examination the intensity and emotion of the iron sculptor, as it contemplates the next bold stroke of its brush, is revealed. It highlights how even least inspired, indeed anyone, can create…inspiration. I am inspired to pledge the first one dollar dollars towards a community effort to purchase and donate it for permanent placement at the waste treatment plant.
Comment by up river — April 14, 2013 @ 1:22 pm
Okay, now I am going to give away how often I go downtown….that piece of art is junk…how embarrassing…so tasteless!
Comment by LTR — April 14, 2013 @ 1:32 pm
My shiny 85 year old 1928 Chrysler shudders every time I drive by that thing.
Comment by Gary Ingram — April 16, 2013 @ 10:32 am
Gary,
Your Chrysler may intuitively sense that some of its relatives are there. It might be a form of reinCARnation.
Comment by Bill — April 16, 2013 @ 11:13 am
Gary and Bill: You both are too funny! LOL
Comment by LTR — April 16, 2013 @ 7:43 pm
Until I learned it was a bike rack, I used to get hungry every time I drove by the “octopus” on 4th and CDA Ave. It reminded me of a huge, fancy foil-wrap doggy bag, but now that I know it’s supposed to be a bike rack–just another crooked waste of space (crooked, meaning it is not level). But then so are most of the street art pieces downtown–drives me batty to see crooked installations, and I’m sure the artist aren’t too thrilled either.
Comment by old dog — April 17, 2013 @ 2:45 pm
And while I’m at it, and since I guess that one or more of the “Arts Commissioners” reads Open CDA–why not a repeat of “Moose on the Loose”. The pieces were uniform enough for defining a congruent theme throughout the City, variable enough that made a person want to see them all–and every piece was sold with the proceeds going to a non-profit.
I would suggest: “Whereon Whereon is the Heron?” That could be followed by: “Over Bear, Over Bear!” Another neat thing about the Moose art was that it didn’t take a supposed professional artist to enter. It was more of a community project (that CDA clearly needs)instead of a group of the chosen sitting around a table deciding what avant-guard, usually non-local artist gets a free “window” to sell his/her wares.
Comment by old dog — April 17, 2013 @ 3:06 pm
Additionally,that artful bacteria stuff down by the waste water treatment plant that breaks down poop is very educational, now everyone knows what is really up their @**.
Comment by Stebbijo — April 17, 2013 @ 8:18 pm
Coeur d’Alene – so sad, trying to be something it is not.
Comment by Gary Ingram — April 17, 2013 @ 8:44 pm