P R E S E N T E D A T T H E 2 4 T H C O O P E R S T O W N S Y M P O S I U M O N B A S E B A L L A N D A M E R I C A N C U LT U R E , M A Y 3 1 , 2 0 1 2
ART IN THE PARK: THE ROLE OF PUBLIC ART IN BASEBALL
PARKS
Bryna Bobick & Leigh Hersey, University of Memphis
WHAT IS PUBLIC ART?PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION & POLICY VIEWPOINT
• Public Art “…is the most publicly visible and is paid for largely by public funds.” (Hunting, 2005)
WHAT IS PUBLIC ART?ART PROFESSIONALS VIEWPOINTS
• “’Public art’ is a broad term that refers to art in public spaces and includes architecture, landscape, and urban design.” (Argiro, 2004)
• Public art is virtually any piece of art that is “created by artists for places accessible to and used by the public.” (Americans for the Arts, 2012)
• Public art can be defined as artworks outside museum and gallery walls. (Russell, 2004)
DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLIC ART
• Different approaches to public art began to occur quickly in the United States in 1967 when the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) created its Art-In-Public Places Program. • The goal was to give the public access to the best art
outside museum walls. (Lacy, 1995, Russell, 2004)• From 1967-1995 funded the creation of more than 700
works.
• More recently state and local agencies have been created to support public art, particularly in conjunction with new capital projects. • 81% of public art programs are government programs; the
remaining 19% are nonprofit organizations. (Becker, 2004)
AUTOZONE PARKMEMPHIS REDBIRDS
Photos By Leigh Hersey
PUBLIC ART IN BASEBALL PARKS
• Primary Types• Honor team’s history
WRIGLEY FIELDCHICAGO CUBS
Ernie Banks, “Mr. Cub” by Chicago artist Lou CellaPhoto by Kalea Yoshida; Used with permission
Harry Carey, by Omri Amrany & Lou CellaPhoto by fantabandfrugal, Licensed by Creative Commons.
PUBLIC ART IN BASEBALL PARKS
• Primary Types• Honor team’s history• Showcase baseball experience
CHASE FIELDARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
Baseball: A Family Tradition, by Clarke ReidyPhotos by: John Hersey, Used with Permission
PUBLIC ART FORMS
• Statues
PNC PARKPITTSBURGH PIRATES
The Great One: Susan Wagner's statue of Roberto Clemente outside PNC Park in Pittsburgh.© Mark Luethi; Used with permission.
PUBLIC ART FORMS
• Statues• Sculpture
SCULPTURE
SAFECO FieldSeattle Mariners
Mitt by Gerard TsutakawaPhoto by Alan Cordova, Licensed by Creative Commons.
Rogers CentreToronto Blue Jays
The Audience, by Michael SnowPhoto by Saschaporsche, Licensed by Creative Commons
PUBLIC ART FORMS
• Statues• Statues• Murals
AUTOZONE PARKMEMPHIS REDBIRDS
Photo by Ian Sterling, Licensed by Creative Commons
PUBLIC ART FORMS
• Statues• Sculpture• Murals• Kinetic
CHASE FIELDARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
George Rhodes, Based on BallsPhotos by: John Hersey, Used with Permission
NEW BALLPARKS
• Nationals Park, Washington Nationals, 2008
NATIONALS PARKWASHINGTON NATIONALS
Walter Johnson, by Omri Amrany and Julie RotblattPhoto by Kevin H., Licensed by Creative Commons
NEW BALLPARKS
• Nationals Park, Washington Nationals, 2008• Yankee Stadium, New York Yankees, 2009• Citi Field, New York Mets, 2009
NEW YORK CITY
Yankee StadiumNew York Yankees
Citi FieldNew York Mets
Top: Mets Hall of Fame;Left: Jackie Robinson Pavillion. Photos by Ray Colon, Licensed by Creative Commons
Yankee Stadium, Gate 6; Photo by Leigh Hersey
NEW BALLPARKS
• Nationals Park, Washington Nationals, 2008• Yankee Stadium, New York Yankees, 2009• Citi Field, New York Mets, 2009• Target Park, Minnesota Twins, 2010
TARGET FIELDMINNESOTA TWINS
Harmon KillebrewPhoto by rburtzel, Licensed by Creative Commons
Kirby PuckettPhotos by afagen, Licensed by Creative Commons
Player statues by Minnesota-based artist Bill Mack.
Photo by Baseball Oogie Photography; used with permission
NEW BALLPARKS
• Nationals Park, Washington Nationals, 2008• Yankee Stadium, New York Yankees, 2009• Citi Field, New York Mets, 2009• Target Field, Minnesota Twins, 2010• Marlins Park, Miami Marlins, 2012
MARLINS PARKMIAMI MARLINS
Home Run Sculpture, Red GroomsPhoto courtesy, Ed Solomon (aka Ed in South Florida); Used with permission.
MARLINS PARKMIAMI MARLINS
Photos by Dan Lundberg, Licensed by Creative Commons.
Plaza walkway by Carlos Cruz-Diez
Orange Bowl, by Daniel Arsham
FULFILLING THE ROLES OF PUBLIC ART
• “Public art makes public spaces more beautiful, encourages us to pause and interact with our environment, or reminds us of important people and events.” (Argiro, 2004)
• “…place-making, environmental art and activism, cause-related art, and interdisciplinary performance events.” (Americans for the Arts, 2012)
• “engage civic dialogue and community; attract attention and economic benefit; connect artists with communities; and enhance public appreciation of art.” (Becker, 2004)
BALLPARK ART & EDUCATION
• Access to public art can be a benefit for students of all ages; however, it tends to be overlooked as learning and teaching resources. (Coutts, 2004)
• Authors (Argiro 2004), Russell (2004) and (Buffington & Waldner, 2012) encourage art educators to take advantage of public art as original artwork for students to experience firsthand.
• Just as often, public sculptures become such a part of our everyday experience that we overlook them altogether. However, when given a close, fresh look, these sculptures can be amazing teaching tools, and provide a great jumping-off point for discussions of history, math, science, and art. (Argiro, 2004)
SAFECO FIELDSEATTLE MARINERS
Quilts, Ross Palmer BeecherPhotos courtesy: Steve Mandich, http://stevemandich.blogspot.com/2009_06_01_archive.html; used with permission.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Bryna Bobick, Ed.D
Assistant ProfessorArt Education
University of MemphisArt and Communication Building
3715 Central AvenueMemphis, TN 38152
Leigh N. Hersey, PhD
Assistant ProfessorDivision of Public and Nonprofit Administration
Director of ResearchInstitute for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership
University of Memphis130 McCord HallMemphis, TN 38152
Research sponsored in part by the Institute for Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership at the University of Memphis. www.memphis.edu/ipnl