Drizzt
Member
College delicate in its handling of gun sculpture
By Martina Brendel
THE SALEM NEWS (SALEM, Mass.)
BEVERLY, Mass. —
A sculpture of a gun by a Montserrat College of Art student is triggering a debate within the college about the limits of public art.
Sophomore Alexandra Karnoff created the sculpture as a final project for her "Installation, Interior/Exterior" class. She took a toy gun, spray-painted it black, filled it with cement and fastened it to a cement block to later install in a flower bed outside the Hardie Building at 23 Essex St.
The sculpture is intended to spark conversation around the problem of gun violence, Karnoff said. She was inspired to create it after the massacre of 32 people at Virginia Tech last month.
"People have a tendency to feel strongly about something just after it's happened, but they tend to forget about it as time goes on," said Karnoff, 21. "I hope that by being confronted by it in a less conventional and more stealthy way, it will help them to coalesce their own personal ideas and opinions around it."
Brian Bicknell, dean of student services, took care to inform the Beverly police about the sculpture. He dropped off a letter Wednesday notifying them that a toy gun would be on display in front of the college and was slightly surprised by their reaction.
"I was a little worried when I went down there that they would say, 'Absolutely not,'" he said. "They just said, 'OK, we'll read it off at roll call so everyone's aware of it.'"
Before the college would allow Karnoff to install her sculpture, it demanded she place a plaque nearby indicating it is a piece of art. It also told her the sculpture would only be on display for 48 hours.
"It's an important issue," Bicknell said. "At the same time, we don't want to throw anyone into a panic attack either. We're trying to figure out how to do both and hope that that's been achieved."
Karnoff agreed to place a plaque near the sculpture bearing the dictionary definition of a gun. She would have preferred for there to be no plaque but understands the college's position.
"The nature of art education is working within the structure and system," she said. "It would be naive for me and all of us to think that my original design would be the end result."
Montserrat College of Art President Stan Trekker said he felt the college has taken the appropriate steps by informing the police about the sculpture. He commended Karnoff for having the courage to pursue such a controversial project.
"I'm really proud of this student that she was so committed to this issue that she wanted to proceed, knowing the sensitivities of the issue," he said. "Sure, it raises questions, but that's exactly what artists do. They raise questions."
Beverly residents Margaret and Sam Scott missed the gun as they walked past the Hardie building Thursday on an evening stroll with their 8-week-old twins and Labrador retriever. On second glance, the couple decided it was "provocative" but also "immature."
"It's potential to unnerve is greater than its value as art," Margaret Scott said.
College officials are scheduled to meet to discuss whether the sculpture will remain in place over the weekend.
http://www.news-tribune.net/features/cnhinsart_story_130233716.html
By Martina Brendel
THE SALEM NEWS (SALEM, Mass.)
BEVERLY, Mass. —
A sculpture of a gun by a Montserrat College of Art student is triggering a debate within the college about the limits of public art.
Sophomore Alexandra Karnoff created the sculpture as a final project for her "Installation, Interior/Exterior" class. She took a toy gun, spray-painted it black, filled it with cement and fastened it to a cement block to later install in a flower bed outside the Hardie Building at 23 Essex St.
The sculpture is intended to spark conversation around the problem of gun violence, Karnoff said. She was inspired to create it after the massacre of 32 people at Virginia Tech last month.
"People have a tendency to feel strongly about something just after it's happened, but they tend to forget about it as time goes on," said Karnoff, 21. "I hope that by being confronted by it in a less conventional and more stealthy way, it will help them to coalesce their own personal ideas and opinions around it."
Brian Bicknell, dean of student services, took care to inform the Beverly police about the sculpture. He dropped off a letter Wednesday notifying them that a toy gun would be on display in front of the college and was slightly surprised by their reaction.
"I was a little worried when I went down there that they would say, 'Absolutely not,'" he said. "They just said, 'OK, we'll read it off at roll call so everyone's aware of it.'"
Before the college would allow Karnoff to install her sculpture, it demanded she place a plaque nearby indicating it is a piece of art. It also told her the sculpture would only be on display for 48 hours.
"It's an important issue," Bicknell said. "At the same time, we don't want to throw anyone into a panic attack either. We're trying to figure out how to do both and hope that that's been achieved."
Karnoff agreed to place a plaque near the sculpture bearing the dictionary definition of a gun. She would have preferred for there to be no plaque but understands the college's position.
"The nature of art education is working within the structure and system," she said. "It would be naive for me and all of us to think that my original design would be the end result."
Montserrat College of Art President Stan Trekker said he felt the college has taken the appropriate steps by informing the police about the sculpture. He commended Karnoff for having the courage to pursue such a controversial project.
"I'm really proud of this student that she was so committed to this issue that she wanted to proceed, knowing the sensitivities of the issue," he said. "Sure, it raises questions, but that's exactly what artists do. They raise questions."
Beverly residents Margaret and Sam Scott missed the gun as they walked past the Hardie building Thursday on an evening stroll with their 8-week-old twins and Labrador retriever. On second glance, the couple decided it was "provocative" but also "immature."
"It's potential to unnerve is greater than its value as art," Margaret Scott said.
College officials are scheduled to meet to discuss whether the sculpture will remain in place over the weekend.
http://www.news-tribune.net/features/cnhinsart_story_130233716.html
I couldn't agree more! Anything "art" has always been in the eye of the beholder; the meaning is as vast as the number of people observing the work. This definately doesn't give you a warm fuzzy, but it sure as hell evokes strong emotion and thought. Art usually mirrors life and based on recent events................... 
