Creative Times Response

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION NATIONAL MONUMENT

This monument was done by Laurie Hawkinson, John Malpede, and Erika Rothenberg. The monument was drawn upon the iconography of Soviet agitprop which I was not sure of what it meant. Upon doing research, the Soviet agitprop is a series of propaganda posters that closely reminded me of the communist posters done in China. The solid red color of the monument is a homage to the styles and style of those posters. 

The design of the monument is in the form of a ramp that leads up to a giant loudspeaker. The people are meant to stand at the edge of the elevated podium and speak into the large microphone speaker which symbolizes speech. I believe the scale of the loudspeaker is meant to express the right of the freedom of speech because it amplifies the volume of the speaker as they talk into it. I think this public art is inspirational and successful because it is bold and stands out with its solid red color. 

FOR NEW YORK CITY: PLANES AND PROJECTIONS and FOR THE CITY

This series of projects was done by Jenny Holzer which had planes flying through the skies pulling banners with texts across the sky in 2004. At night, there were projections of xenon poetry. I think back in those years, it was an interesting sight to see because nowadays, we are more focused on looking at mobile devices. Looking at the sky now is more of a chance when there is an open space. I think the quotes were meant to inspire thoughts as well as focusing on reflections of the real world. 

In the For the City project, poems of celebrated writers were projected on the facade of the Rockefeller Center and the New York Public Library at night. In addition, she also projected recently declassified U.S. government documents released under the Freedom of Information Act. What I like about this project is the fact that she addresses the issue of government secrecy and transparency. 

TRIBUTE IN LIGHT

The Tribute in Light was created to honor the deaths as a result of the attack on the World Trade Centers on 9/11. In celebration and for hope in the country, The idea was from a team with the Julian LaVerdiere, Paul Myoda, John Bennett, Gustavo Bonevardi, Richard Nash Gould, and Paul Marantz. What the monument does is create remembrance of the twin towers by shining searchlights into the sky from where the structures stood which creates an spectral sight of the present-day nonexistent buildings. 

The simplicity of the idea creates a serene and transient moment in the night. Unlike a physical monument in which one needs to physically see, this light is shone on the anniversary of the attack which makes it a one night sight to behold. The atmosphere of the night makes the experience very solemn and it contrasts to the light that comes from the lights because it becomes a shining ray of hope.