Homecoming in the sixties was an event. Greeks decorated their houses and were represented in the annual Homecoming Parade. In 1959, I was a freshman and had met a group of students who were an amorphous bunch called Independent Students. They had rejected the Greek System, but gathered together to be a loose knit group. The Independents needed a float for the Homecoming Parade and I was enlisted to round up other kids to get the job done. I recall driving around the dorms: Wilson and Wiebking and the other smaller women's residences looking for recruits. At that time most students only came to Colorado State College to whip through a basic Education curriculum and get into a classroom. Zip Zap.. a neighbor of mine attended summer school and did her BA in three years!
Point being that no one stayed on campus. Virtually everyone went home to spend the weekends with family and the comfort zone of where they'd come from to Greeley. I wonder if everyone goes home these days? Fifty years hence?
Understanding that the City of Greeley and the university is probably the same politically as it was all those years ago is becoming clear. I realize that I can't force progressive thought where the safety of representational art and familiar ideas still live. I just wish that there was one voice for progress that might respond to my strong desire to donate my tribute to Totem Teddy to the college.
Years ago there was a big controversy down in Denver when a Blue Ribbon Committee made up of arts experts were engaged to help decide upon public art for a new university campus there. They reviewed entries for two years or more and finally awarded the prize of an installation to an abstract artist who had created a piece called Athena. Athena was a huge sort of yellow Mrs. Potato Head with three dimensional representations of learning bursting from her. The outcry was incredible! Finally, the Colorado Arts Council met to discuss the work. One member of this politically appointed group made a statement that I'll never forget. He just couldn't 'get' that the controversy was a big part of the art.. it was undeniable.. it was outrageous and strangely beautiful. His comment was that for the kind of money that the State of Colorado was going to pay this artist they could get some "'really good art"" like the Buffaloes at Stapleton" which.. I believe, his wife had made.. bronze bison, life size.. standing at the old airport. "Really Good Art!" indeed.
I've been told by Greeley acquaintances that if it ain't representational, then chances are that it might not be embraced by UNC or the community. Some time ago an observer on this blog said that freshmen didn't have time to 'figure out abstract art.'
So.. there's a stuffed bear in a plastic box in the UC and a huge bronze bear squatting outside. Does anyone pay attention to them? Like them? Care?
I'd sure like to make a difference in Greeley and on my old campus. I really would.
Michael
Point being that no one stayed on campus. Virtually everyone went home to spend the weekends with family and the comfort zone of where they'd come from to Greeley. I wonder if everyone goes home these days? Fifty years hence?
Understanding that the City of Greeley and the university is probably the same politically as it was all those years ago is becoming clear. I realize that I can't force progressive thought where the safety of representational art and familiar ideas still live. I just wish that there was one voice for progress that might respond to my strong desire to donate my tribute to Totem Teddy to the college.
Years ago there was a big controversy down in Denver when a Blue Ribbon Committee made up of arts experts were engaged to help decide upon public art for a new university campus there. They reviewed entries for two years or more and finally awarded the prize of an installation to an abstract artist who had created a piece called Athena. Athena was a huge sort of yellow Mrs. Potato Head with three dimensional representations of learning bursting from her. The outcry was incredible! Finally, the Colorado Arts Council met to discuss the work. One member of this politically appointed group made a statement that I'll never forget. He just couldn't 'get' that the controversy was a big part of the art.. it was undeniable.. it was outrageous and strangely beautiful. His comment was that for the kind of money that the State of Colorado was going to pay this artist they could get some "'really good art"" like the Buffaloes at Stapleton" which.. I believe, his wife had made.. bronze bison, life size.. standing at the old airport. "Really Good Art!" indeed.
I've been told by Greeley acquaintances that if it ain't representational, then chances are that it might not be embraced by UNC or the community. Some time ago an observer on this blog said that freshmen didn't have time to 'figure out abstract art.'
So.. there's a stuffed bear in a plastic box in the UC and a huge bronze bear squatting outside. Does anyone pay attention to them? Like them? Care?
I'd sure like to make a difference in Greeley and on my old campus. I really would.
Michael
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