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community by Leesa Strimbicki Public A r t or A r t in Public Places? R ecently, I facilitated a w o r k s h o p and was asked t o explain t h e dif- f e r e n c e b e t w e e n " p u b l i c a r t " and " a r t in public places." I was n o t s u r p r i s e d that the q u e s t i o n was asked, given that the C i t y o f N o r t h V a n c o u v e r ' s Public A r t Policy S t e e r i n g C o m m i t t e e asked t h e same q u e s t i o n , g e n e r a t i n g much discussion about whether w e w e r e d e v e l o p i n g a policy f o r " a r t in public p l a c e s " o r f o r " p u b l i c a r t " A r t i s t Lucy L i p p a r d , art c r i t i c and artist, offers o n e of t h e best definit i o n s I've h e a r d o f public art. " P u b l i c art is accessible art of any k i n d that cares a b o u t / c h a l l e n g e s / i n v o l v e s and consults the audience for o r with w h o m it is m a d e , r e s p e c t i n g c o m m u nity and e n v i r o n m e n t ; t h e o t h e r stuff is still private a r t , n o m a t t e r h o w big o r e x p o s e d o r intrusive o r hyped it may be." (The Power of Place, M I T p r e s s , 1997, p68.) T h i s is a relatively n e w definition of public art. In the past, large disc r e t e pieces o f art, (the H e n r y M o o r e s c u l p t u r e o n t o p of Q u e e n Elizabeth P a r k c o m e s t o mind) w e r e literally p l o p p e d o n a site. O f t e n r e f e r r e d t o as " p l o p art," t h e s e w o r k s d o n o t fit i n t o a site c o n t e x t u a l l y o r have little relationship t o t h e p e o p l e w h o use and f r e q u e n t t h e site. B u t in r e c e n t years, public c o n t r o v e r s y , lack o f funding, and t h e changing needs of t h e c o m m u n i t y have ignited a m o v e m e n t t o re-evaluate the role of the artist and the process of creating art f o r public s p a c e s . T h e result is an evolving creative p r o c e s s that is m o r e e n c o m p a s s i n g and inclusive of t h e c o m m u n i t i e s that use and visit a place. Today, public a r t e m b o d i e s a c o l laborative p r o c e s s that includes t h e design c o m m u n i t y , artists, and p o l i t i cians. It is a b o u t creating a r t that belongs--integrated into t h e city's i n f r a s t r u c t u r e and the everyday life of the community. T h e benefits of c o l l a b o r a t i o n in t h e public a r t p r o c e s s are many: bett e r ideas, a w i d e r range of a p p r o a c h e s , higher levels of energy, and a b r o a d e r s p e c t r u m of skills. H o w e v e r , it also means that e v e r y o n e engaged in t h e p r o c e s s of creating public art must c h e c k t h e i r ego at t h e d o o r . T h i s isn't a s o l o s h o w . A n d maybe that fact goes a long way t o explaining w h a t public art is. To receive a copy of North Vancouver City's Public Art Policy and Procedures document, contact Leesa D o you have a viewpoint on Public A r t Public Art Coordinator, at Strimbicki, 984-9582. every month at the North Shore Arts Commission Committee Office, 148 E 2nd members Street 9th avenue grate sidewalk, Seattle. Tree museum Public art goes beyond aesthetics. It not only invests a space with "placemaking" qualities and culture, it has the capacity to interpret the historic, social, cultural, and narrative nuances that exist in a functional urban environment. Successful public art programs enhance the quality of our lives, express local values, and bring recognition to the community. Public art transforms space into place. are Lee Barnes, Commission; Fox, Chair, North Shore Arts Patricia Johnston, artisujames Councillor; Craig Keating, developer; Margo Gram, North Vancouver Recreation Commission; Margo Long, landscape architect; Carol community representative. McQuarrie, in t h e C i t y of N o r t h V a n c o u v e r or wish to know more about the Public Art Program? Attend the Public Art Steering Committee Progrom Jack Mackie's steps, Avenue, meetings held from of Dancer's Broadway Seattle 5 to 7 pm, on the second Wednesday