Take Your Pick: Which Sculpture Should Ossining Adopt?

Ossining Mayor Bill Hanauer was a vocal participant in Wednesday night's ArtsWestchester forum in White Plains on public art. Officially the talk was themed on "What is the public's role in public art?" but really it encompassed all angles on public art, circling back to a verdict: it's worthwhile.

Hanauer, who said he once lived in Venice, Italy and recognizes the value of public art, spoke of the ambitious 25-piece sculpture show that is now marks Ossining's bicentennial celebrations through the end of October -- by many measures a huge success.

When the key speaker, public art expert Harriet F. Senie, said that public art might not have tangible value, Hanauer disagreed. He said the benefits have been obvious economically -- that, thanks to good publicity, people are coming to Ossining to see the art and they are spending money there. 

The Mayor admitted he has gotten some casual complaints about "taxpayer dollars funding twisted metal" but he corrects these: it's not tax money at work but fundraising that made this show possible.

In the end, he said temporary art need not meet general public approval, but perhaps it would be appropriate to have a knowledgable few entrusted to choose and place such works. Permanent work, on the other hand, especially if taxpayer-funded, would require more of a "public buy-in," he said.

ArtsWestchester CEO Janet Langsam asked the panelists who should fund public art. Someone from the audience responded too quietly for most to hear but Hanauer agreed, repeating, "Exactly," he said. "Whoever wants to pay for it."

He said that public art can be a net gain politically as well; leaders shouldn't shy away from the public art for fear of almost certain controversy. 

That said, Hanauer expressed his hope that if there's a surplus of the sculpture show funding by show's end that he'd like to see one sculpture get purchased and become a permanent fixture in the village.

If there is the money to buy one sculpture for Ossining, which of the 25 would you choose?

Check out these pictures from the Celebrate Ossining website and weigh in here. Have you seen them in all in their Ossining settings? Share photos on Patch Boards if you took the tour!