Bemidji Arts Commission. Help or Hinder?

Bemidji's art community is alive and well. Just take a walk around downtown and view all of the impressive artwork on the Sculpture Walk. And the not-so-impressive artwork. Does the city need help selecting and placing art in public spaces?

Some citizens are proposing a new Arts Commission to help the city avoid the problem that arose when public art was removed from the sculpture walk.  It was returned following an emotional and sincere outcry by the community.   A commission not a new idea. The idea has been floating around for some time and there have even been proposals pitched to the city in the past.

One well-respected local art advocate believes we are long past needing a group to help the city. Sandy K. wrote about it in a letter to the editor earlier this month. Here's an excerpt:

An arts commission can help draft and facilitate a comprehensive public art policy, advise the city council and manager on arts related issues, and provide a forum for citizen comment, etc. Such commissions are usually made up of artists, designers, architects and arts advocates who submit applications, are appointed by the Mayor and voted on by the Council.

Most public art policies include criteria and procedures for: commissioning temporary or permanent art or memorials; identifying appropriate locations for art on city property; removal or relocation of existing works of art, determining maintenance and safety requirements for public art; accepting gifts of art, and public art planning.

Sandy's proposal seems reasonable.  Will the Mayor and council take the initiative and make it happen? Sandy concludes:

I believe our community, its artists, the Council and staff could all benefit from the formation of an arts commission and the development of a thoughtful public art policy. Our artists and the public deserve no less.

Other cities have them: Edina Art Center Board. Hutchinson Public Arts Commission. Coon Rapids Arts Commission.  What do you think of the Arts Commission idea? Here's some public art to ponder as you consider the idea.

Does camouflage count as art? 

Joshua Callaghan's "Almost Invisible Boxes" - in Culver City, California are utility boxes painted to disappear into the scenery. Another--less controversial--public art project for Bemidji?

Yarn Bombing?

Image of yarn bombed tree in Ohio, courtesy of fibesquad blog at wordpres.

Yet another form of public art is yarn bombing or graffiti knitting. Think of it as a sweater for your tree, or a hat for your rock, or a bikini for your beaver statue. The Star Tribune had a story last month about yarn bombing in Minneapolis. See more pictures on Flickr here. Bemidji seems like a perfect place for yarn bombing. After all, we are the home of Bemidji Woolen Mills and we do need sweaters much of the year.

But back to the question at hand:  We love our art in Bemidji. Would we love a City Arts Commission?

Funny How Time Slips Away

Summer's slipping away and I haven't blogged much at all.  Maybe a couple of times. Well, summer is almost gone--it's September next week (aack!) and it's time to get back in the habit of blogging on a regular basis.

I like blogging because it gives me a way of sharing my opinion (everybody's got one), highlighting the good things happening in the city (I see lots of great things), or venting on bad things that are happening in the city (no shortage there either, unfortunately). I know, facebook gives you that outlet too and I admit, FB is part of the reason I haven't blogged. FB is quick and short and mindless. It kind of sucks you in and -poof- the whole night is gone. Blogging takes more thought and maybe even a bit of work--research, developing your narrative, writing complete sentences. You know, thinking.

Another reason to start posting again is because I am running for city council. I hope that my blog posts will help the people of Ward 4 get to know me and my ideas on city issues.

Getting ready for door knocking. My candidate pin.

But my ultimate reason for blogging is to get more local government information out to city residents, try to help make sense of it and encourage civic participation.

For example, did you know that there is a city newsletter posted on the city's webpage every week? Here's the link to archived newsletters.
Did you know that there are city volunteer openings on two commissions? City Charter Commission and Joint Planning Commission (JPC). These volunteer positions have been open for quite a while.

You'd think that citizens would be anxious for opportunities to have a voice in the city's affairs, but the city has had a difficult time keeping their six spots filled on the JPC, even though it's a paid volunteer position ($50 per meeting). Personally, I think the JPC is too large (12 members, 6 township and 6 city reps.). I think that reducing the membership to 8 would encourage better attendance (there is rarely full attendance) and tighten up meetings.  Having 12 members just seems to allow members the ability to be free-riders. I imagine members thinking:

"If the other 11 members prepare, I really don't have to. I don't have to read the whole packet, I can skim  it. Who would notice if I'm not  prepared for the meetings? Everybody can't talk, there are 12 of us, for crying out loud!"

Don't get me wrong. I believe the JPC members take their roles seriously and work hard, but  I watched the JPC tonight. There were only nine in attendance. I think it needs to be smaller.

It's good to be back writing a blog. I hope you'll return again. In the mean time, "gee ain't it funny, how time slips away" (courtesy of Willie Nelson).