Home @ 25 Jan 2007 06:39 pm by Christina Waters
Many of you instinctively realize that, yes, there is something uglier than even the River Street sign. And it is right here in downtown Santa Cruz, a mere two blocks down the street (from the much-loathed River Street sign), nestled beneath the also-ugly Town Clock. I refer, of course, to that mock-Guernica, Frankenstein-in-bronze, anti-war statue we are forced to endure every time we want to drive to the bank, or across the Water Street bridge to go to the gym.
I’m sorry to offend the sculpture’s perpetrator, but this is a flagrant waste of good bronze. In a town that likes to congratulate itself on being an artist’s enclave, how in God’s name did such a mind-numbingly ugly eye-sore find such a prime location? Just because someone with good intentions assures you that they have an important artwork to showcase — don’t believe them until you see the evidence. The road to hell is paved with people promising to sell you perfectly nice bridges.
Here’s another view - exhibit B, if you will.
I think you are channeling my wife and I, or vice versa. If memory serves me, a number of lovely little flowering trees were removed to make room for the afforementioned monstrosity. It is my firm belief that some of the same idiots that gave us the River Street travesty were also responsible for this one!
If my memory serves my right, ‘Collateral Damage’ was created many years before it ever got installed at the town clock and the people involved in getting the City to install it as the centerpiece of the Peace Park had nothing to do with the big box stores and big box sign on River Street.
Of course, anyone who had ever looked at Picassos’ Guernica would see that there is no likeness whatesoever, except perhaps thet both artists are attempting to convey the horrors and human sufferning of innocent people in war.
As for ‘ugly’, isn’t war ugly?
I agree Jim that war is ugly. But public artworks needn’t be.
CW
I have never been able to figure out why the city, or some group, or someone doesn’t landscape with flowers or hang baskets of flowers in and around the town clock.
The entire area looks so drab and forlorn. Many other small cities I have visited adorn their downtown areas with some flowers. It would look so much more inviting and add that wonderful touch that Santa Cruz does ooze between the lines (remember; Paradise).
I’m sure the main issue is money- - - -but geez, I understand the small community of Seacliff has a dedicated group that keeps up with flowers, weeding, etc. Santa Cruz must have some folks with that kind of caliber???
I recall when this piece was installed that some wanted something a bit more “Support America.” The discussion and debate, that I recall, centered around weather memorials that depict the horror of war are appropriate for public space and more specifically for the center of Santa Cruz. I do not feel that art, nor even public art, need be beautiful; some wonderfully important art work is abrasive.
I like that Santa Cruz’s down town houses a peace park. But need we use a negative representation of peace–and an ugly one at that–to “support” peace. If this park is to bring a feeling of peace to Santa Cruz then, in it’s current state, if fails.