Mural "approved" for downtown, process brings out best and worst

Click on the picture to download a larger photo.

BEST:
1. Maceo Montoya, the artist.
2. The mural, based on the appropriate sketch above
3. Silvina's Basket, the business that accepted the concept
4. Property owner of 816 Main Street
5. Sponsor, CDPH
6. First Amendment of our Constitution

WORST:
1. City of Woodland – 1880s attitude toward works of art (has stalled Art in Public Places ordinance since 2002). Staff said at the Planning Commission meeting that the criteria is broad and only time will tell if the mural becomes "historic" - one criterion of a weak guideline. What a stupid interpretation of the policy.
2. Planning Commission – has no business "approving" private artwork. Two commissioners said the mural pointed out an "eye-sore" on the building and wanted the mural all the way up the building (which would surround the "eye-sore," making it part of the mural).
3. Peanut gallery – The groups and individuals who think they can dictate the content of a private work of art ("the mural needs to show diversity," "the tractor should not be modern," "a third-grader could have done it")

I don't know which category to place this blog. One person came up to me and criticized the Woodland Journal (although this person called it the "online paper" thinking it's WoodlandRecord.com). The person was wondering why there were so many supporters of the mural at the Planning Commission meeting and was told that this blog had many negative comments about it. Apparently, the artist was upset at the unfair comments. That's not good, but the notion that Web sites (WoodlandJournal.com and DailyDemocrat.com) brought out supporters of his project is a very good thing. At the time of this post, the original story at WoodlandJournal.com generated 86 comments - in support of, and against, the mural.

End note: The city has a tendency to provide lip service at random. The city claims the mural fits its vision of creating a more pedestrian-friendly downtown. As much as I would like to see many different works of art in the downtown (that in itself would create representation of diversity), public and private art is really a small part of creating a pedestrian-friendly environment. Is artwork important for a vibrant downtown? Yes. But creating a pedestrian-friendly downtown requires PROACTIVE solutions to traffic, parking, architecture, landscaping and circulation (urban planning). Things like hiring consultants and holding repetitive meetings only delay obvious solutions to creating such an environment. To use this mural as an indication of the city's "vision" to create a pedestrian-friendly environment is another reason why I put the city as "number one" in the worst category.