Comments on: That’s a pretty big statue

By: Rudi

Rudi — Thu, 15 May 2008 00:29:23 +0000

Litghten up, the statue isn't a re-enactment/approval of Tommy Smith and John Carlos in Mexico City. MLK wasn't Huey Newton or Malcolm X, but he was controversial. I hope this doesn't end up like the Vietnam Memorial with a banal statue for the whitre folks…

By: archangel

archangel — Wed, 14 May 2008 23:41:23 +0000

thanks dear Angela Winters and it's good to see you back with such a strong piece. More. More.

dr.e

By: Lynx

Lynx — Wed, 14 May 2008 22:32:11 +0000

I don't know what the artists intentions were, but I agree with Chris that the US is turning MLK from the black radical that he was to Bill Cosby, which he most definitely wasn't. (it should be noted that I admire both men, though of course MLK is in another league). Black and angry is no longer kosher, and no one wants to imagine that MLK was anything but a conciliatory figure. He wasn't, he was a fighter, he HAD to be a fighter. Conciliatory like Obama is fine for now, but back then the country didn't need a gentle nudge, it needed a great big shove, and that's what MLK gave it. He is a hero because of that.

I don't really like the statue myself it DOES remind me of an Iron Curtain era statues. I guess for me it'd be more appropriate to have a more abstract statue that puts MLK in the context of the history he was a part of.

By: Idol » That’s a pretty big statue

Idol » That’s a pretty big statue — Wed, 14 May 2008 17:28:54 +0000

[...] Heath L. Buckmaster – Homo sarcasmus wrote an interesting post today on Thatâ??s a pretty big statueHere’s a quick excerptLooks too much like idol worship. I guess its no different than the Lincoln or Jefferson Memorial(my favorite), so if you like those, this… [...]

By: ChrisWWW

ChrisWWW — Wed, 14 May 2008 17:27:30 +0000

Maybe this is the artists way of fighting the “Santa Clausification” of MLK.

By: Aine

Aine — Wed, 14 May 2008 17:21:49 +0000

The artist won the commission based on a very different concept- of MLKs head and shoulders emerging from a boulder (almost Mount Rushmore like). Either he decided for himself that this change was a great idea,or somebody gave approval for him to change it. Either way, it is a style that is not only not reflective of MLK, but not reflective of his era or style. Like runasim, to me it is very totalitarian / soviet era in style.

By: Jim_Satterfield

Jim_Satterfield — Wed, 14 May 2008 17:05:20 +0000

I would think that open, welcoming arms would be more appropriate.

By: runasim

runasim — Wed, 14 May 2008 16:44:04 +0000

Judging from the picture, I 'm also reminded ot statues of Lenin and the like.

But art that I find jarring is not something that affects me deeply. I just move on to something that speaks to me.
I found the modernity of the Egyptian themed additions to the Louvre extremely off-putting., because I saw no link to the history based main buildings. However, that didn't prevent from going inside to see what I could find to appreciate.