High bench makes you wonder why there's so little public art in the city

highbench.jpg

The "High Bench" by Brad Downey and Mike Wrobel sat 10 feet high in the air on Manhattan's lower east side. The project attempted to raise questions about urban spaces and the objects that pervade public envitonments. Although the bench was removed by the Department of Transportation, it still makes an interesting comment on the state of public art in the city.

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Posted by Jonah Brucker-Cohen | Jan 18, 2008 08:00 AM
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Posted by: s1200 on January 18, 2008 at 8:56 AM

the statement this is attempting to make is either extremely shallow and trivial, or extremely deep and beyond me. otherwise, it looks like it was more effort than it was worth.

still like it though. go figure.


Posted by: Michael on January 18, 2008 at 9:06 AM

I'd call this more of a prank than art. It needs a sign like "Courtesy seating" too.


Posted by: Daenris on January 18, 2008 at 9:11 AM

Anytime someone says something like this "it still makes an interesting comment on the state of public art in the city" they should be required to elaborate on the statement they think it's making. Because it won't be making the same statement to everyone who looks at it.


Posted by: David Feather on January 18, 2008 at 9:32 AM

I thought we were surrounded by art. I thought you all called it graffiti.


Posted by: Mike on January 18, 2008 at 9:37 AM

If it's like art that's supposed to make you think, then it worked.

I'd pondered how it could be a statement about public sevices that while exist, but aren't really accessible.


Posted by: Russell Nelson on January 18, 2008 at 10:23 AM

Maybe the reason there isn't more "public art" is because the public doesn't like it, and causes their agent to remove it.


Posted by: BrianE on January 18, 2008 at 11:21 AM

The statement I think it makes about public art is "There is to much useless art around here, give us more park benches so I can sit down once in a while."


Posted by: Drew on January 18, 2008 at 3:12 PM

You guys are sure a bunch of drags. Since when does art need to have a meaning? Why can't it just be something fun/funny to look at? Not everybody is going to like it it but show me a piece of art that everybody digs.


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