Tag Archives: #greaterlala

Participatory Culture, Politics

League of Women Voters 95th Anniversary Celebration and Speech

Greater Lafayette League of Women Voters 95th Anniversary Celebration

I had the honor of speaking at the League of Women Voters of Greater Lafayette 95th Anniversary Celebration on September 22nd.

 

Here is a copy of my speech:

On February 8th, 2014 I sent out my first tweet:

@baielala: Good morning all. Need a good profile picture. On the way. Anyone else going to this Legislative Breakfast at MCL this morning? #greaterlala

Over the previous year, I was becoming more active and engaged publicly in our local political landscape. Through some friends and members of the League, I heard about the local League of Women Voters Annual Legislative Breakfast held at MCL Cafeteria. I attended so I could live tweet the event, meet other local, committed political people, ask questions and hear the positions from our representation in the Indiana Congress.

This amazing event was my first direct taste of the Greater Lafayette League of Women Voters. I have always been impressed with the League’s presence at a variety of public gatherings; from our Farmers Markets, to our Mosey Down Main Streets, to educational events held at our Public libraries and community centers, among a myriad of other activities. As we all have learned, if there is a congregation of politicos in Greater Lafayette, there is no doubt that some League Members are also in attendance.

And it’s exactly this breadth of membership, this devotion to political engagement and enlightenment, that drew me into becoming an official, due-paying member. Joining the League gives me an opportunity to give back to the same group of hardworking individuals whose mission couldn’t be any more simple and clear: making democracy work.

Look around you today, as we celebrate 95 years of the League’s existence: be proud to know that you stand among others who, like yourself, are contributing to the success of the League’s lofty and straightforward goal.

Art, Ideas, Participatory Culture, Politics

#smallspaces Downtown #greaterlala Art Project Critics Strike Again

I awoke this morning to read Dave Bangert’s wonderful piece (Bangert: Critical mass for graffiti project?) on the latest round of criticism and censorship for a work that is part of Zach Medler’s #smallspaces art project in Downtown Lafayette.

This time, it concerns a zombie piece, created by an MFA student at Purdue, Sagan Newham, on the side of a building near 5th and Ferry streets.

This painting by Sagan Newham on the side of Haywood Printing, Fifth and Ferry streets, brought some complaints about the “small spaces: Lafayette” public art project. According to the project curator, the piece will stay up until Halloween and then be replaced. (Photo: Dave Bangert/Journal & Courier)
Photo: Dave Bangert/Journal & Courier

I am curious. Since the City of Lafayette is reacting in such a way with public art, how does this affect other public space type projects?  How does the City respond to a building development proposal based on aesthetics?  What about other public art pieces?  Parks?  Landscape designs?

Tom Shafer had some good ideas discussing public space and its inclusion in our daily life:

“If the work was in a gallery, the public could decide whether or not to look it. Medler’s concept is that if the people see public works of art every day, then the art becomes a part of their life,” Shafer said.

“When the city bought into this without subject matter and expertise guidelines, they ran the risk of underdeveloped concepts and subject matter that the general public cannot appreciate. Is some of the work poorly done? Yes. Is some of the work exceptional? Yes.”

Again, how would Tom’s criticism look if we were discussing buildings, businesses, parks, etc?

One aspect of #smallspaces that softens these types of criticisms is that if nothing else, they will be re-evaluated in two years.  A building, park, landscape design is a bit more permanent.

This reminds me of a conversation we had during the State Street Master Planning process regarding public art:  How do we include a sunset clause for public art?  Not everything deserves a permanent home or can last for decades.  What seems appropriate and inspiring today, may be insulting or dull in a few years.  What processes exist to remove public art in our current City code?

For now, I ask us to consider the same concepts, and more, when we are evaluating other long term and highly impactful aspects in our urban life.

At least in Lafayette, one or two people can have a major influence over what stays up, gets censored, moved, etc.  Let’s hope the same magnitude of citizen power can be yielded in other public arenas that are just as significant.