Public Art Mistaken for Construction Materials, Crews Take it Away

Remember that public art work that was installed for the California Biennial in Culver City last week? Street maintenance crews accidently took it away yesterday thinking it was construction materials left on the sidewalk after someone called to complain. Luckily, it wasn't thrown in the trash as they're reinstalling it this afternoon.

This actually brings up some very interesting and good conversation points because this public art program from LAXART questions "the current contexts for the exhibition of art in the public realm." For example, how would this art be approached and thought about if it were in a gallery and not on a street corner (see a similar work by the artist in a gallery setting, 2nd photo above)? Does public art have to be purely decorative, or can it be more abstract and thought-provoking? This piece in particular almost blends into the streetscape and as it continues to live on the sidewalk, the public may begin to question why it's there and could come to a fuller understanding of art.

Los Angeles based sculptor Jedediah Caesar's "Gleaners Stone" will remain on display through Spring at the northeast corner of Washington Boulevard & Marcasel Avenue in Culver City--this time with some signage explaining the work of art.