92ndY Talk Public Art with Cathie Behrend -Much of the Art is Behind Buildings and in Other Boroughs

Today's art talk at the 92ndY was given by Cathie Behrend.  Ms. Behrend was the former Deputy Dir. of the Percentage for Art Prog. in NYC Dept. of Cultural Affairs.  She is also the founder of Ventures in Vision which provides art tours in the boroughs.  Ms. Behrend began the talk with a photo & discussion of a Richard Serra's controversial site specific installation "Tilted Arc' '1981.  Serra (b Amer 1938) is a world renown minimalist sculptor of large scale metal works.  The commissioned "Titled Arc" was so controversial & disruptive to workers & occupants around the Federal Plaza it was removed in 1989.  The major complaints were that the 12'X112' (2 1'2 inches thick) divided the public space making the plaza less accessible.  I found this fascinating.  Public art, which Ms. Behrend so cogently answered the flippant question "What is public art's purpose?" by answering it's art, there is no other purpose.  Of course, commissioned public art is meant to benefit the public.  I found it gratifying to know the public can & does have an impact on whether an installation in their area should stay.  What I had hoped to garner from Ms Behrend, whom I found intelligent & very prepared were accessible sites for existing examples.   I cringed when she asked our group to name an example of their favorite public art anywhere.  A woman chose Robert Indiana's (b Amer 1928) LOVE sculpture on 6th Ave.  Really?  The examples of public art which I had thought were an oversight on my part, turned out to be more hidden.  Most of the examples given are found inside public parks, buildings, schools, libraries, transit stations in most of the outer boroughs.  As founder of Ventures in Vision, Ms. Behrend repeatedly pointed out the schedule of tours she provides to see them.  Perhaps, the $25/hour class was geared to gain additional remuneration.  However, besides learning of Serra's Art removed by public outcry, I learned of the statue illegally erected by "guerrilla artists" to honor Edward Snowden a hero as a whistle blower.  I don't credit Snowden as a hero, come home & face charges if you're so heroic Mr. Snowden.  But, again, it's interesting to note the statue "Prison Ship Marty's Monument 2.0' erected April 6, 2015 was taken down later the same day.  And, in its place, other artists erected a light hologram a tribute to free artistic expression if not an homage to Snowden.  This can be found in Ft. Green Park, Brooklyn and this is something I want to see for myself.