When you go around and look around and look at or spot forms of public art which is more likely to draw your attention? “Street Art” (which in this writing is to sum up all non-traditional public art) or “Sanctioned Art”? For myself it’s a combo of both, depending on the style. I’m not against the traditional monumental brass sculpture. I just have a tendency to gravitate to grittier or more contemporary works.
With that said, I feel like that if more “Street Art” style where to combo with the traditional, it could help liven up towns and cities. When I walked around the Walker’s Sculpture Garden about 6 years ago it combined both contemporary and traditional. Something that groups trying to bring art to their towns should think about. This could be either having “Street Artists” work closely with “Traditional” and to show both methods in action. Or allow Contemporary to stand next to Traditional and not be afraid that they will clash. This could help bring young people to respect the work and also feel more included in town workings rather than feel kept away.
Now, the question was, “Do you get better public art when it’s allowed?” as always the answer is “Yes” and “No”. Depending on who is looking at the work and their taste. Being open to work - new and old, traditional and contemporary, street and non-street art you may be able to shorten the gap between the “Yes’s” and “No’s”.
