Coming of Age: Post-Pandemic Public Art

Virtual Artist Talk with Jack Becker
Founder of Forecast Public Art
September 8, 2021
Event Recording
Public Art Resource Links

Jack Becker
ChromaCar (2019)
Courtesy of the artist.

Jack Becker has been embedded in the field of contemporary public art for 45 years—as an artist, educator, producer, curator, writer, publisher, and arts administrator. Best known as the founder of Forecast Public Art, based in Minnesota, Becker also founded Public Art Review, an international magazine devoted to contemporary public art.

During our September 8 online event, Becker will share some examples of his own work from the past decade, as well as insights gained during his career in the public art field. He will offer a brief overview of trends and issues in the field and engage audience members in a dialogue about critical challenges and emerging opportunities.

In addition to the Artist Talk, the LH Horton Jr Gallery organized an online Survey of Public Art to provide resources and information for our students and the community on the various types of projects and organizations involved in the field of public art. Featured organizations include prominent local, regional, and national government agencies and non-profit organizations. The Survey presents public works that focus on building civic pride and engaging with community, such as the Stockton SEED Mural Project. The Survey also presents public works that preserve our heritage and shared human experience, such as the Cesar Chavez Memorial in Sacramento by Lisa Reinertson. Particular attention is given to the movement to build new public monuments that support, reflect, and represent America’s diverse cultural communities.

Artist Statement by Jack Becker

Public art is visible evidence of our shared humanity. Creative expression in the public sphere often acts as a cultural barometer, revealing the values, beliefs or power struggles in a society. During the pandemics of COVID and racial injustice in 2020, while most traditional arts venues were shuttered, the vibrant field of public art continued to expand and evolve. The commissioning of large-scale monuments was justifiably put on hold, while a growing number of unsponsored—and untethered—artists emerged, amplifying previously muted voices in our communities. This is a coming-of-age moment for public art in America. (read more...)

Given the enormous challenges and tragedies endured over the past 18 months—and continue to endure on a global scale—our future depends on collaborative efforts to recover, rebuild and heal. Public art today has gained currency as public spaces have become more essential to our cultural lives; outdoor spaces continue to be the safest places to gather. With the civic unrest following the murder of George Floyd, countless murals have gone up and dozens of statues have come down. The stories behind many of these have been amplified by mass media outlets and embraced by activists seeking justice and reduced disparities in communities. Likewise, with the increasing threat of global warming, many artists have turned to eco-activism, leveraging their creativity to raise awareness and instigate actions to improve planetary health.

According to longtime Public Art Review contributor Jon Spayde, “Artists are learning from past and present efforts using the arts to help restore people’s equilibrium after a disaster, to knit ravaged communities together and to examine social problems that are laid bare when normal civic functions go haywire.” Indeed, artists often rush in as “first responders” following natural disasters—earthquakes, floods and fires—so it’s no surprise to witness the attention artists are paying to restore some wholeness to the traumatized psyches and souls shaken by the past 18 months. The power of art is most evident in these artist-led recovery efforts. Public art, in many ways, is about caring, sharing, and shaking us awake.

Public artists are taking an active role in changing how we live. They’re designing healing environments, reshaping urban spaces to support community wellness, and transforming our public experience by making our surroundings healthier, more meaningful and more beautiful. There’s a growing body of research that shows our thinking, emotions, behaviors, and even our social lives are influenced by the built environment. In short, designed environments and the visual elements within—not to mention, sounds, smells and textures—have the ability to contribute to improved health, from our individual physical and emotional well-being to the health of our communities.

A Survey of Public Art — Organized by the LH Horton Jr Gallery