Not in my town!!!
“Not in my town”
“Not in my town” is my way of protesting the removal of artwork from Burns Square before the agreed period of time. No rules were broken, it is being removed for the simple reason that some don’t like it. Sarasota claims to be a leader in the arts but has a prejudiced attitude when it comes to the murals that are created during the Chalk Festival.
Featured: Entes y Pesimo are artists from Peru and “Snowflake” is one of the elephants created by Kumpa Tawornprom.
“Going Vertical” was introduced during the 2011 Chalk Festival. Up until that time the artist used the streets as their canvas. Going Vertical expanded the festival and attracted a new and diverse crowd of artists. It is not random tagging of buildings, it is a partnership between the Festival, the artists and business owners. Walls are donated by the owner and the artist has 6 weeks to complete their mural. In a perfect world the artwork would stay for a year.
“Leaders are visionaries with a poorly developed sense of fear and no concept of the odds against them”
~Robert Jarvik~
This was the first year I was involved in the festival. I got to know a little bit about the driving force behind it. Denise Kowal is a woman with a vision. She see’s what she wants and goes after it. Intellegent, energetic, and passionate are among the many qualities she possesses. Not many people have the ability to introduce an idea and in 5 years develop it into an international festival. Does this happen without stepping on toes? I think not. I say with ease that Denise is fully aware of the odds against her as she continues her mission to inject Sarasota with a new art form, Going Vertical. It should also come as no surprise… where last year’s Fast Life ended, this years Entes y Pesimo (among others) continues.
So I say to Denise… keep pushing those boundaries (I know you will). It would be a sad day when constant bickering and petty complaints would cause this event to become generic and unexciting.
What has everyone in an uproar?
After reading the articles, I had to see for myself just how bad Burns Square must look. The photo below is showing the remnants of artwork. In my opinion I really saw nothing that would cause me to get so upset I had to head to city hall. I was disgusted by a woman letting her little poodle poop on the sidewalk as I walked by (sorry, but it was right there… on the sidewalk) than by the artwork on the street or the murals. The elephants… well, maybe a Tube Dude riding atop one of them might make everyone just a little happier! I’ve said it before… I’m just a simple girl. I think if you stroll through Burn’s Square and feel like you’re in the ghetto, you might need to get out a little more.
So, here is what the media is saying…
“Some Burns Square business owners questioning Chalk Festival decisions”: A group of business owners from the Square plan to meet with Sarasota City Manager Tom Barwin this week. They are upset that the street still has remnants of the artwork on it…
and some props from the Festival, like two model elephants, still remain standing in the neighborhood…
“It just doesn’t seem that anyone knows what to do afterwards,” said Sharon Katzman, the owner of IOptics. “I think this has been a problem every year, that we are left to deal with the after effects of thousands of people in our little neighborhood.”
The after effects of thousands of people (outsiders) in our little neighborhood? I’m thinking that maybe these angry business owners might put the energy used to complain into something more productive like some creative marketing strategy. For a little over a week there are a ton of potential new customers in the area and they complain? Maybe I’m missing something.
“Business Owners” Murals make Burns Square look like a ghetto”: The neighborhood looks terrible and it is our prime season The holidays are here…and Burns Square looks like the ghetto,” Swor wrote.”I thought graffiti was against the law? Why is it OK in Burns Square?”
“… I think it is terrible, it cheapens our whole neighborhood. We are hearing tons of complaints,” Swor continued.”People are shocked and disgusted with it. I am angry, I spend thousands of dollars on maintenance, paint, landscaping, proper signage, etc…Yes, there are a few beautiful murals, but there are many that need to go! The city has allowed Denise Kowal to completely destroy the look of our neighborhood—the buildings, the streets, her props and crap everywhere.” ~LeeAnne Swor
Birth begins unbiased…
all the other stuff is pretty much learned. We talk about tolerance and acceptance but do we practice it? Are we willing to see the world through someone elses eyes or do we put the blinders on as we head out the door in the morning? Are we too busy yelling that we drown out the voice of our fellow human beings?
For 10 days Sarasota was home to artists from how many countries? Will their style please everyone? And if it doesn’t, does that mean we should remove it. Innovators in street art performed before our eyes and we complain that the street has some artwork on it.
I wonder how the kid who painted this feels now? I never saw him without his mask on but my guess is he may have been somewhere around 20 years-old. He spent all that time just to have painted over because someone doesn’t like it. Way to go SRQ.
“Going Vertical”
It’s been around forever
but is it acceptable in Sarasota???
If Denise Kowal gets her way (some say, she ALWAYS does) she’ll have artists climbing the walls around town and leaving behind… Art?
Last years festival gave us a taste of “Going Vertical”
Not that recording history or communicating by drawing on a wall is new… it’s just hasn’t been established as an artform in SRQ.
Controversy surrounded almost every aspect of going vertical which was introduced via the Sarasota Chalk Festival in 2011. From MTO’s Fast Life mural to the Palm Avenue (lipstick on a pig) parking garage. Some were thrilled with the fare and some turned up their noses.
As this years festival is about to begin, did last years controversy scare Kowal into conforming to the way we do art here? Or will she continue in her vision where art will be out there for everyone to see? No entrance fees, no gallery.
“Round two” & going vertical
In a recent Ticket Sarasota article, Denise promotes this years “Going Vertical” launch party while giving her opinion on the Sarasota art scene…
“Sarasota is not used to being challenged much, and we’re a little white-bred when it comes to art,” Kowal says. “We’re never going to grow as a community if we don’t allow other processes to happen. That’s how children grow. They need to be challenged with things that make them think. Stereotypes brew when you’re not given the opportunity to look at different perspectives.”
I find her white-bred reference priceless (but I have thick skin) and it could be the final blow suffered by those who want to dictate what art is worthy of a place in our community.
From the clowns in 2005 up to present day “Surrender”, our history proves there are those who judge what is and isn’t art and would only allow art that is proper and safe. No grey matter needed. When John Henry curated this years Season of Sculpture he stated that fewer artists are making personal statements. “We’re seeing fewer pieces that make any statement — period”. I agree.
The 2012 launch “party
This years festival, Circus City, USA (let the controversy begin) is about to get under way and Sarasota Architectural Salvage was the perfect venue for the “Going Vertical” launch party.
The rain was no deterrent and Dr Robin was keeping watch outside as guests arrived. Greeted by a human statue high atop a specially crafted pedestal. Four statues (Denise Kowal, Jill Kelly, Elisa Graber, Alexis Clarke) in all, each one dressed in attire compliments of Cash Delight and Tortoise & Pearl. A donation dropped into a pedestal was all it took to get any movement from the lovely ladies.
Chalk boards were set up and local artists Lori Loveberry George and Truman Adams were chalking away. They weren’t the only ones allowed to play. More boards were set for those in attendance who would wish to leave their mark during this festive evening.
Music and conversation filled the air as people nibbled their way through the rooms. Support for the festival was clear by those in attendance as more walls were donated for murals and more artists being sponsored. A success!
Congratulation to the Sarasota Chalk Festival. It appears Denise will continue to pave the way towards tolerance, acceptance and in her endeavor to make art available to all.
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