![\"65rubenstein\"](\"http:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/65rubenstein.jpg\")
<\/a>During the 2001 Legislative session, the Utah State Legislature eliminated funding for all public art projects for the fiscal year 2002, terminating a public program that has benefited the community for over fifteen years.<\/span><\/p>\nThis means that citizens of the State of Utah from all walks of life and every part of the State will not have the opportunity to experience art in public spaces for the new or remodeled State buildings that were approved for construction this year. Buildings like the new center for the Shakespearean Festival, the Museum of Natural History and the performing arts center at Snow College, among others, did not receive funding for public art projects.<\/span><\/p>\n Communities have lost an opportunity to bring in artists from all over Utah and the United States to create art specifically for them and the institution or agency that serve them. The Public Art Program and the Utah Arts Council mourn the loss of this opportunity to help build the communities of Utah economically, educationally and culturally.<\/span><\/p>\n The cultural loss is incalculable. The loss to artists and small business is enormous. The loss to community efforts in establishing a sense of place and pride could never be measured. It is known that businesses looking to locate in a new community often look for the visible commitment to culture and pride of place that public art demonstrates.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Public Art is the very embodiment of art for everyone. It is a direct contradiction to accusations of elitism so often cited by opponents to the public funding of art.<\/span><\/p>\n Since the inception of Utah\u2019s Public Art Program by the Utah State Legislature in 1985, over 200 artworks have been installed in 63 sites throughout Utah. Our public art collection has a wide variety of media from stone gardens, benches and fountains to 19\u2019 paintings depicting the majesty of Utah\u2019s landscape.\u00a0<\/span> The process of commissioning public art is for and by the community. Every project has a unique committee. The architect, the Division of Facilities Construction and Management, the Utah Arts Council, and the state agency being housed in the facility and the community are all represented.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The committee reviews every artist’s proposal and awards the commission based on the aesthetic value, qualifications of the artist and how appropriate the proposal is for the agency and the community. This process insures the art is not \u201cplopped\u201d into a community but is created specifically for and with sensitivity to the community’s history, culture and people.<\/span><\/p>\n The Utah State Legislature’s Capital Facilities and Administrative Services Committee is the body through which all funding for State facilities is approved or denied. This committee will be revisiting the issue of funding public artwork in the next legislative session. Please join us in contacting your legislative representatives to explain the importance of art in public spaces for your community.<\/span><\/p>\n If you have any questions about Utah\u2019s Public Art Program or would like some literature about the program please call or email Jim Glenn at 801-533-3585 or jglenn@ucc.state.ut.us<\/a> or Fletcher Booth at 801-533-3586 or fbooth@ucc.state.ut.us.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n The Utah Arts Council website at www.arts.utah.org can give you more information about all of the programs offered through the Utah Arts Council. The Public Art \u201cCommissions\u201d page lists public art calls for entries from both regional and national projects.<\/span><\/p>\n pictured in this article are, from the top: Barton Rubenstein’s “Manna From The Sky” 2001 (Stainless steel 13′ x 8′ x 8′) located at the Bridgerland Applied Technology College, Logan UT; James L. Young’s<\/span><\/i> <\/p>\n COMMENTS FROM A SELECTION COMMITTEE MEMBER<\/p>\n Collette Mercier, Vice President for Instructional Services at the Ogden-Weber Applied Technology College, was on the public art selection committee for the building. The sculpture shown above by Robert Sindorf called “Dance of Creation” was one of the works selected by the committee. The sculpture, in granite, was completed in 2001 and measures 16′ x 10′ x 5′. Utah sculptor Neil Hadlock calls the piece “one of the finest works of public art in the State.”<\/p><\/div>\n We believe we have benefited greatly from the Public Art Program.\u00a0\u00a0 Our campus has several sculptures as a result of the program that add beauty and interest to the campus.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We bring visitors to our campus whenever possible.\u00a0\u00a0 I’m sure that some individuals are surprised to see art at a technical school \u2014 but art enhances the soul regardless of your career choice.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The comments we receive from the public are very positive, especially with regard to the most recent sculpture.\u00a0\u00a0 It is truly quite impressive.\u00a0<\/span>I found the process to be fair and appropriate.\u00a0\u00a0 The staff were great \u2014 gave us a lot of support and unbiased input, and did not try to influence the process.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We had significant community input but appreciated that we also had a somewhat greater say in what was selected, for after all the sculptures are located on our campus \u2014 we look at them every day.\u00a0I am truly sorry that funding has been cut. I understand the economic realities \u2014 when times are tight, we need to preserve the basics. It is unfortunate that some of the first items to go are those that elevate the human spirit \u2014 and in these recent times, we sorely are in need of that. <\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/a>All of these works are in, on, or around the state buildings they were commissioned for from St. George to Logan.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\n“Ascent Totem” 1991 (Painted aluminum 25′ x 12′ x 4′) located at the College of Eastern Utah, Price UT. Images copyright Utah Arts Council.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/a>