I myself am having a hard time coming to a decision on the piece. Some think that $165,000 is too much for an important piece of public art, but instead I’m wondering about the timing and implementation of this piece. Was the bridge designed without the artwork in mind? What kind of results would we have had if the three artists were brought on board earlier, working in a more integral way with the bridge designers? (And while we’re on the subject… Why don’t people appreciate the intrinsic beauty of a bridge itself anymore?)

Okay, comparing a pedestrian bridge in Cary, North Carolina to one of the most important structures in the industrial revolution isn’t really fair… However, it is fair (I think) to compare Cary’s attempts at civic art to Raleigh’s projects. Case in point, the shimmer wall on the new convention center. Surely a good Architect teamed up with a talented Artist could have come up with a more integral sculpture, allowing the art to feel less applied?

I’m afraid the answer is, “Yes, but not for under $156,000.” Hopefully the three pieces to be integrated into the new Walnut Street Park will really be something to write about.

Julie and I took the wee-one on a walk yesterday after work as a non-television way to bring our day to a close. As many of you may or may not know, one of the key factors in choosing to buy our house was pedestrian access. We wanted a house within walking distance of basic grocery shopping, a park, etc. I was also especially excited about the proposed pedestrian bridge over US1/64.

The bridge is now open, and there is now a debate about what piece of public art the Town of Cary will be tying into this bridge. The proposed vine sculpture by Mike Stutz isn’t exactly what I’d hoped for… too literal for my tastes, but after all this is Cary. I find the alternate artist Judy Bales much more compelling, but still am dissatisfied with the fact that all the big competitors for this installation weren’t local.

With the multitude of artists in Cary, Raleigh, and Durham I find it hard to believe that there wasn’t a better choice, closer to home for this project. Alas, we shall see what comes of it. I feel that the bridge is already rather photogenic, so hopefully whatever Stutz has planned, it won’t completely conceal the beauty of the structure itself.