Move Beyond Controversy And Embrace Public Art

Aug. 13, 2015

Late in 1998 while expecting the birth of our daughter, my husband and I decided to relocate from St. Joseph in order to be near family. We narrowed our search to Traverse City and Ann Arbor, and then began a list of pros and cons. Traverse City’s recreational offerings, natural beauty and proximity to Lake Michigan were attractive, while Ann Arbor was strong for its diversity, ethnic food scene, and cultural and educational opportunities. In the end, Traverse City’s investment in a gorgeous new library sealed the deal for us.

Once we started focusing on northern Michigan, we discovered some deficiencies. The YMCA was unattractive and poorly located and, other than the National Cherry Festival, there weren’t a lot of opportunities to celebrate as a community. Most noticeably, there was an absence of public art.

Nearly eighteen years later, our community has a YMCA of which we can be proud and festival opportunities have quadrupled. But public art? Still lacking, and I think I know why.

You might recall the controversy surrounding Dewey Blocksma’s "River Guardian" proposed public art piece in 1999. About 12-feet from its base, the figure’s shoulders are made of an aluminum canoe, the head created with a rounded piece of weathered wood, and eyes represented by seashells.

At the time, the Traverse City Record-Eagle reported that city commissioners were "aghast" by the sketch the artist submitted. A few commissioners made disparaging remarks and it looked like it wasn’t going to happen, but they decided to invite the public to give feedback (with three models displayed throughout the city) and they finally relented when the final tally was 77 percent in favor.

A very vocal minority was shut down when it came to a simple vote. Art selection by public consensus – while it did get us there, could have been a recipe for disaster. The process left residents and commissioners with a bad taste in their mouths, and "River Guardian" didn’t ignite more interest in public art as hoped.

Then came a 2008 proposal from Dennos Museum Director Gene Jenneman. He was aware of the recently completed "Your Bay, Your Say" public input study suggesting a "beam style" sculpture on the Open Space. He had been in touch with officials from Kmart headquarters in Troy who were willing to donate "Time Myth," a 30-foot-tall, angular white sculpture valued at $25,000. It seemed like a win-win. But according to Traverse City Mayor Michael Estes, "a lot of people didn’t like the idea of a large sculpture blocking the view of Grand Traverse Bay."

In this case the proposal didn’t even make it to the public. A few naysayers whom I suspect didn’t fully understand what public art can do to carve out a community’s identity loudly shouted down the supporters. The conversation eventually deteriorated and the proposal was rejected. This fiasco highlighted the fact that there was no real process in place for funding, selecting, placing and maintaining public art – looking at proposals project-by-project was frustrating and futile for all involved.

Fortunately, Downtown Development Authority and City of Traverse City officials didn’t give up. Last winter they passed an ordinance that supports a more proactive approach to public art, and now we can plan instead of react. I am honored to have recently been appointed to the newly established Arts Commission.

Why public art? It improves our quality of life and enhances the general welfare of the city’s residents by providing an opportunity for visual delight, desirability, community dialog and education. It also advances the interests of a city by aiding in the enhancement of property values and by promoting economic growth.

The Knight Foundation’s "Soul of the Community" initiative surveyed nearly 43,000 people in 43 cities and found that "social offerings, openness and welcomeness," and, importantly, the "aesthetics of a place – its art, parks, and green spaces," ranked higher than education, safety, and the local economy as a "driver of attachment."

The goals of the new public art program are to promote the visual arts in Traverse City and to enhance its urban environment and public spaces. We plan to include works of art representing a broad range of media, styles and community interests, while informing residents and encouraging participation in all phases of the process. We are also responsible for documenting, maintaining and conserving works of art in the public art collection, while leaving a legacy of artwork for future generations.

Traverse City will join more than 350 U.S. cities that have successfully developed and implemented public art policies. We have developed an arts master plan and have set a process in place for professionally seeking, evaluating and locating commissioned, leased, and donated artwork and monuments within the city limits.

With the creation of the "One Percent for Art" fund, we have also created a stable funding mechanism for public art. The City of Traverse City and the Downtown Development Authority are each designating 1 percent of their annual capital improvement budgets to the program.

A lot of planning and thoughtful consideration has gone into this new initiative in order to avoid the mistakes of the past. Public tastes and artistic sensibilities vary, and I’m sure there will continue to be controversy surrounding the selection and placement of public art, but now is the time to cleanse our palettes and enjoy the feast to come.

Christie Minervini owns Gallery Fifty at The Village at Grand Traverse Commons, and is active in causes of education and homelessness in the Grand Traverse region.