There is a debate raging in Saskatoon about a street art installment in the Mayfair area of that city.
Keeley Haftner's Found Compressions One and Two installation has raised the hackles of residents, one of whom has gone so far as to wrap the art work in a tarp complete with a sign reading "Our tax dollars are keeping garbage OFF the streets. Please help us keep our neighbourhood clean."
The art in question consists of two shrink-wrapped bales of scrap plastic that the artist said was intended to start a conversation about waste, consumption and public art.
The unpopularity of the piece may prompt its removal, but the controversy is a jumping off point to talk about the "eye of the beholder" aspect of art.
To the artist, the piece was intended to be provocative. To some, it is simply garbage.
The Regional Optimist recently came under fire for the publication on the front page of a scene from the Battlefords Community Players' season ending play, Sexy Laundry. Featuring real life couple Jim Walls and Linda Lyon Walls, who portrayed the characters in the play, the photo prompted phone calls denouncing it as in poor taste and perhaps even as pornographic. Certainly not suitable for what the community considers "their" newspaper.
When, as a news team, we made the decision to use the photo, that context never even occurred to us. We saw it as "art in action," and after having the privilege of enjoying the play itself, I would go as far as to call it "fine" art in action.
I have been a patron of Battlefords Community Players presentations for a number of years, and in my estimation Sexy Laundry was their most powerful presentation to date. Humorous, witty, poignant and thought provoking, it lived up to its billing of igniting a few sparks and prompting a few tears.
The Walls were the entire cast of the three-hour play, which did not break for an intermission. The work and commitment that went into their roles have to be staggering. And the Battlefords Community Players' ultimate success with the subject matter and their presentation of it has been born out at the provincial TheatreFest 180 hosted in Swift Current April 21-26. The reception of the play there mirrored local theatre goers' reviews. The play was judged best production overall, earning the McIntosh Cup. Walls and Lyon Walls were named best actor and actress and Donna Challis took home the best director award.
Truly fine art indeed and we don't feel much like apologizing for doing our part to promote their work in their home community.
