If you haven't seen Rome's Coliseum on fire, it's an incredible sight. Fortunately, it's also an art project designed by the dual team of Thyra Hilden from Denmark and Pio Diaz from Argentina. The project, which cost $700,000, was on display in Rome for one day last Saturday. It's an amazing illusion. The purpose of the project, according to the artists, was to highlight how fragile cultural artifacts are. I hope that one day somebody in Washington, DC has the same sense of artistic purpose to allow a national monument here to appear on fire.
Bill, you may just get your hopes and wishes answered. The National Capital Planning Commission and its partners are beginning to explore alterative methods to honoring America’s most significant people and events. These might include temporary public art installations (much like the burning coliseum).
ReplyDeleteWe invite you and the readers of All Life is Local to join NCPC, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the British Council, and the Trust for the National Mall as we discuss global approaches and other creative ways in which the nation’s narrative can be told through alternative methods.
The forum takes place on Wednesday, December 8, 2010 at 6:30 PM at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Confirmed participants include Julian Laverdiere, one of the designers of the World Trade Center Towers’ Tribute in Light; Krzysztof Wodiczko, Harvard professor and artist with a specialty in temporary and interactive light installations; and Justine Simons, director, London's Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square.
Come out and learn how temporary art installations can help alleviate pressure on the National Mall, open the door to more artists and project sponsors, prompt greater exploration of new and dynamic designs and materials, and bring new people into the discussion about placemaking in the public realm.
The event is free and open to the public, but RSVP requested. Copy and paste the following URL for all of the event details:
http://www.ncpc.gov/ncpc/Main(T2)/Public%20Participation(Tr2)/Public%20Participation(Tr3)/upcomingEvents/Commemoration.html