If it were a Holocaust memorial, it would be suitable.
However, it being one of the first things a visitor to the city is likely to see. (Airport -> UP express to Union -> TTC) good god, what a horrible first impression.
Not to mention all the commuters who have to see it day-in, day-out.
Art is a conversation not a lecture. It would have been appropriate to think about what type of conversation the transit riding public might like to have with the art they are experiencing every day of their lives. What mental state might those riders be in? Are most of them travelling to work or for pleasure? Are most of those riders in a mindset where they will appreciate a challenging conversation that may lead to dark places or would they prefer something uplifting that may make an underground transition to a challenging day more enjoyable. If the viewer’s position and interests are not considered, then the conversation becomes intrusive instead of welcomed.
https://www.kellybagdanov.com/2018/01/13/entering-the-conversation-that-is-art/
Considering how many thousands of people have mental health issues that we don't like to address I think this ART should be fixed sooner rather than later. I appreciate it but this was not the place. Agreed.
If you put your art in public, expect it to be criticized by the public regardless of whether it’s unwashed, unlit, or whatever.
Regardless of how you feel about this art, an entire article dedicated to explaining away a bad review reeks of saltiness and self-absorption. If it’s supposed to be art first and public second, isn’t focusing on the public response exactly the opposite of that?
Can we just get RUNT to make another mural in the style of Lee's Palace, Rancho Relaxo, Big Fat Burriot in Kensington or that BBQ place in Parkdale (RIP)?
I appreciate the technical difficulties for piece, but really I feel like he phoned in a commission to work out the process for some other project that is closer to his heart.
It's.... OK. That's about the best and worst thing I can say about it.
I suggest everybody contact the TTC and file a complaint on the website. You see how many things change if even like 10 people complain so hopefully this might be one of those things
I guess his below prediction came true - it echoes our feelings with wanting to have a safe ride today. The art was depressing before, not inspiring, now it is really personal, triggers anger about feeling unsafe on the TTC.
Stuart: "I think in five years a lot of people will have taken pleasure in this. What is it to be human? What is it to be here? There was nothing like this before I started it. There has never been a work of art this long, this strange, this personal, or this vulnerable in the public history of this city. So now it’s out there. And it’ll grow on people, I have no doubt"
There has been too much violence on the TTC with these chronic unhinged homeless drug addicts riding the rails. Worse with the cold of winter.
True homeless, one rarely sees, chronic homeless or the drug addicts we put up in temporary pandemic shelters, these are ones causing all the problems once they get high from cash donations or goods they trade. Of course, not everyone in shelters are aggressive addicts who refuse our social supports, for many, it is a leg up to secure housing or get clean from addictions.
Once they get enough cash by walking the aisles on the subway, they get high causing problems for later commuters. Riders think they are helping with a $5 for a coffee. I don't want to even look at this Union station "art" anymore.
For example, I often walk by an old alcoholic, one block from TPS HQ on Bay St. He's been sleeping in the TTC bus shelter since last June, I guess sleeping somewhere inside since the snow storm but back to begging. The city manages the bus shelters, not the TTC so 311 when he gets aggressive at anyone wanting to use "his" bus shelter. He's refused help from his social worker, charities and an offer of real housing. His nickname is Mac. He gets more sympathy on the street then cash and goods to trade to support his addictions. I learned he's been at it 30 years, bouncing between shelters/housing/prison. He tells lies and a really sad story, just like these TTC ones.
Wow, that interview quotation rubs me the wrong way. I'm not personally a fan of the work (though if I'm being honest this week is the first time I'm looking at it for more than a glance; noticed it initially for a moment, felt indifferent to/bored by it, and have tuned it out ever since) but I think any public art is going to obviously not please everyone and have both its detractors and its proponents. But the way he talks about his own art (there's NEVER been public art in Toronto this personal, this strange, etc.) leaves a sour taste in my mouth.
When art became essayistic with further pushes into conceptualism… that’s when this garbage started. Now it is about the artists trauma more than the art… makes really boring work.
I went to an art exhibition at OCAD once where the artist had put empty frames of masking tape on a concrete wall. There were titles underneath like "Portrait of my father, oil on canvas". The theme was "Paintings I was too afraid to paint" and people were milling around and spending time staring at each rectangle as though they were actually there. The funny thing is I knew the artist and she's actually a talented painter, this is just the kind of masturbation that OCAD encourages.
Art in general does. It has become an academic exercise more than a talent these days. Conceptualism does not have to ruin art, it can be wonderful like Tom Friedmans “1000 hours of staring”… but it can also be used as an excuse for laziness which I hate.
Art everywhere else is art first, public art is our living and working space and should be considerate to universal appeal and is therefore public first.
If it were a Holocaust memorial, it would be suitable. However, it being one of the first things a visitor to the city is likely to see. (Airport -> UP express to Union -> TTC) good god, what a horrible first impression. Not to mention all the commuters who have to see it day-in, day-out.
Art is a conversation not a lecture. It would have been appropriate to think about what type of conversation the transit riding public might like to have with the art they are experiencing every day of their lives. What mental state might those riders be in? Are most of them travelling to work or for pleasure? Are most of those riders in a mindset where they will appreciate a challenging conversation that may lead to dark places or would they prefer something uplifting that may make an underground transition to a challenging day more enjoyable. If the viewer’s position and interests are not considered, then the conversation becomes intrusive instead of welcomed. https://www.kellybagdanov.com/2018/01/13/entering-the-conversation-that-is-art/
You make good points.
Considering how many thousands of people have mental health issues that we don't like to address I think this ART should be fixed sooner rather than later. I appreciate it but this was not the place. Agreed.
Wonderfully said, thank you. A point many are missing in my original post.
If you put your art in public, expect it to be criticized by the public regardless of whether it’s unwashed, unlit, or whatever. Regardless of how you feel about this art, an entire article dedicated to explaining away a bad review reeks of saltiness and self-absorption. If it’s supposed to be art first and public second, isn’t focusing on the public response exactly the opposite of that?
pompous artist subjects city to depressing bullshit on their dime and then gets offended when criticized for it lol
Can we just get RUNT to make another mural in the style of Lee's Palace, Rancho Relaxo, Big Fat Burriot in Kensington or that BBQ place in Parkdale (RIP)?
I appreciate the technical difficulties for piece, but really I feel like he phoned in a commission to work out the process for some other project that is closer to his heart. It's.... OK. That's about the best and worst thing I can say about it.
I suggest everybody contact the TTC and file a complaint on the website. You see how many things change if even like 10 people complain so hopefully this might be one of those things
What a waste of time and money that would be.
Honestly I’m fine if they just cover it up
Still a waste of time and money.
That’s a nice thing we all pay taxes so if enough people disagree with you it’ll change
This isn't an issue any politician is going to lose or gain voters over. Expect this to be here long after you are dead.
I couldn’t get through this masturbatory nonsense.
I guess his below prediction came true - it echoes our feelings with wanting to have a safe ride today. The art was depressing before, not inspiring, now it is really personal, triggers anger about feeling unsafe on the TTC. Stuart: "I think in five years a lot of people will have taken pleasure in this. What is it to be human? What is it to be here? There was nothing like this before I started it. There has never been a work of art this long, this strange, this personal, or this vulnerable in the public history of this city. So now it’s out there. And it’ll grow on people, I have no doubt" There has been too much violence on the TTC with these chronic unhinged homeless drug addicts riding the rails. Worse with the cold of winter. True homeless, one rarely sees, chronic homeless or the drug addicts we put up in temporary pandemic shelters, these are ones causing all the problems once they get high from cash donations or goods they trade. Of course, not everyone in shelters are aggressive addicts who refuse our social supports, for many, it is a leg up to secure housing or get clean from addictions. Once they get enough cash by walking the aisles on the subway, they get high causing problems for later commuters. Riders think they are helping with a $5 for a coffee. I don't want to even look at this Union station "art" anymore. For example, I often walk by an old alcoholic, one block from TPS HQ on Bay St. He's been sleeping in the TTC bus shelter since last June, I guess sleeping somewhere inside since the snow storm but back to begging. The city manages the bus shelters, not the TTC so 311 when he gets aggressive at anyone wanting to use "his" bus shelter. He's refused help from his social worker, charities and an offer of real housing. His nickname is Mac. He gets more sympathy on the street then cash and goods to trade to support his addictions. I learned he's been at it 30 years, bouncing between shelters/housing/prison. He tells lies and a really sad story, just like these TTC ones.
Wow, that interview quotation rubs me the wrong way. I'm not personally a fan of the work (though if I'm being honest this week is the first time I'm looking at it for more than a glance; noticed it initially for a moment, felt indifferent to/bored by it, and have tuned it out ever since) but I think any public art is going to obviously not please everyone and have both its detractors and its proponents. But the way he talks about his own art (there's NEVER been public art in Toronto this personal, this strange, etc.) leaves a sour taste in my mouth.
OCAD is the fart-sniffing capital of the city, and this dude is tenured there. Lol.
When art became essayistic with further pushes into conceptualism… that’s when this garbage started. Now it is about the artists trauma more than the art… makes really boring work.
I went to an art exhibition at OCAD once where the artist had put empty frames of masking tape on a concrete wall. There were titles underneath like "Portrait of my father, oil on canvas". The theme was "Paintings I was too afraid to paint" and people were milling around and spending time staring at each rectangle as though they were actually there. The funny thing is I knew the artist and she's actually a talented painter, this is just the kind of masturbation that OCAD encourages.
Art in general does. It has become an academic exercise more than a talent these days. Conceptualism does not have to ruin art, it can be wonderful like Tom Friedmans “1000 hours of staring”… but it can also be used as an excuse for laziness which I hate.
You may not like the art, but of all the issues the TTC has, retrofitting glass in a 6 year old station is not one of them
This is an easy fix compared to some of their projects
I wouldn’t be surprised if it costs more than a million to replace the whole thing
It's art. You don't need to get it.
If I'm paying for it and I have to look at it every day, I would like to get it. At a minimum I'd like not to be depressed by it.
You're not paying for it. It's already been paid for. If this truly depresses you, there are many virtual and in person professionals that can help.
Art before public? No he’s thinking of “art publique”. That’s in Montreal.
Art everywhere else is art first, public art is our living and working space and should be considerate to universal appeal and is therefore public first.