By: Finton Shaw

Finton Shaw — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 20:28:57 +0000

Conway is over 100 years old and has invested little in one of the most important natural resources known to man since the beginning of time. That natural resource is ARTISTIC TALENT. Everything that the planers of this community are doing is good and I support,however if we will be honest we can see that there is very little public art intended to cause the viewer to take a few moments to contemplate. Truly, I do not know of one piece of public art in Conway that does this to an individual. Are we afraid that our citizenry is too shallow to understand meaningful art, that they will protest when the content of the art strikes a nerve? This town is the home of every citizen, not just the few. This city would die if any one of the three classes(the rich, the middle, the poor) packed up and left. Any home without art in it suffers intellectually so why would we want our community to suffer intellectually? Michelangelo remarked that people thought him to be a mad, crazy man, then he said “We mad, crazy men are like those strong onions, we give flavor to those boring capons”. I know of no art mecca in the world that suffers as greatly as communities that remain artless. I also know that no community became an art mecca without making art one of its priorities. If Conway will begin incorporating high quality, meaningful art into its landscape I truly believe that it can by 2025 have a positive impact on the image of our community. I am happy that people get off the interstate highway to get something to eat and buy gas but it would also be great if they came to view the arts. The lack of public arts will invariably fall on the shoulders of the city leaders. If the leaders want public art they can make it happen. If they do not want public arts it will not happen. How long does this city want to keep putting it off? It amazes me that we have three colleges in this town and where is the art?

Comments on: A Brave New Conway

By: Finton Shaw