It's The Arts

Downtown Sculptures of Knoxville, TN: Abstract Rubbish

by Mark Byars

Most of the sculpture in downtown Knoxville, Tn are unfortunately what I call "rubbish". Any time I see steel sculpture "painted" in a variety of cheery colors, and even worse they don't work together it gives me the cold chills. Creating a piece of steel sculpture is an undertaking that in itself, and most times if not always using a monochromatic color scheme is going to be the direction to go to create a balanced work. At the same time there is a piece downtown that is pure "orange". It is that color probably not because the artist thought it was the true color the piece should be, but because he was directing it to an audience that equated "orange" with the VOLs (Knoxville Tennessee's major college football team). Sad, very sad. I make these arguments directed towards works that are "abstractions", but the same argument applies to a subjective bronze sculpture of a person. Colors, can be an embarrassing eyesore in the realm of metal sculpture, and only in very rare instances will it actually be able to work in balance and form. When it comes to abstraction the "obvious" isn't always a great idea.
Obvious in color choice, subjectivity, and or just a reckless choice of colors that damage the form of the work of art.
On a positive note are all of downtown Knoxville's sculptures rubbish? No. Unfortunely, the vast majority of abstract works are a visual hodge podge, and a mess. The standard subjective sculptures are generally well executed. Overall, I have to say even with bad works on display give Knoxville an A for trying.