PUBLIC ART

I enjoyed reading the article in your recent issue entitled "Imagining public art" [August 25, 2000] with its assortment of ideas for public art in Portland. I particularly liked Henry Wolyniec's comment that "art is all about waking up." I agree.

I'd like to add some of my own thoughts to the discussion. Much successful recent public art has been made for a specific site (as opposed to what might be called "plop down" art). The history, geography, current culture, and pedestrian usage of a particular place may become integral to the concept of the work placed there. This work is often collaborative in nature and the collaboration may take place between the artist, a city's urban designer, architects, landscape architects, and, of course, the public itself. This work tends to have public buy-in and hold public meaning. And it tends to stand the test of time.

This is one of many models for commissioning public art. But whatever the means, public buy-in should not preclude the acquisition of challenging or offbeat pieces. I think the best public art embraces both worlds.

We are planning a series of seven lectures this fall which will look at Portland's existing public art collection as well as explore programs and trends in public art in other cities around the country. We hope to have as many Phoenix readers in our audience as possible!

The Portland Public Art Committee can be contacted care of the Planning Office, 389 Congress Street, Portland, Maine 04101.

Sincerely,
Alice Spencer
Chair Portland Public Art Committee
Portland

VOTING GREEN

People tell me not to vote for Ralph Nadar because Bush will get elected. Is anybody paying attention? President Clinton went to Columbia to give them $1.3 billion for helicopters! Disguised as the drug war, the militarists will be able to kill the Indians and drill oil. Occidental Oil, with Gore as a shareholder, and Enron, a top contributor to Bush, will be happy for the killings. No wonder the president waived the human rights provisions that normally accompany foreign aid. You can't invite a civil war for US industrial gains and simultaneously respect human rights. Ralph cannot spoil a spoiled system, and the only vote wasted is a vote not cast. I'm not ashamed to cast one for Nadar for president of the United States, and I am proud there is an America worthy of my vote.

Benjamin Meiklejohn
Maine Green Party Steering Committee
Portland

E-MAIL FOLLIES

I noted with some amusement your recent article "Pass the e-mail" [August 18, 2000] that tells of Congressman Tom Allen's office losing 1700 constituents' e-mail messages to him and all the finger pointing that went on to place blame!

Sometimes, people just make things more complicated than they need to be. So far none of my e-mails have been lost in cyberspace!

Senator Jane Amero
Candidate for Congress
South Portland

A FOOD BANK FAMILY

I would like to thank you for doing the story on the Portland Community Food and Nutrition Program ["A food bank goes broke," August 18, 2000]. Of course, I do have a personal interest because organizer Skip Matson is my father. He has worked many, many, many long hours to keep this program running. Most days working from sun up to sun down, because he REALLY CARES about the people he is serving. I know people that are enrolled in this program and they say, "I don't know what I would do without your father's program." As you know, some are elderly and some are just ordinary people trying to make ends meet. For the elderly this program is heaven sent, because now they don't have to choose over FOOD or MEDICATION. The others are thankful because now they can purchase things that they probably never would have before. Again, I thank you and my whole family thanks you for doing this story.

Beth E. Parker
Portland

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Letters may be mailed to the Portland Phoenix, 482 Congress Street, Suite 501, Portland, ME 04101; faxed to (207)773-8905; or e-mailed to portlandletters@phx.com or to a writer's e-mail address (e-mailed letters must include a telephone number for verification and a hometown). All letters are subject to editing for considerations of space, fairness, and clarity.

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