In civics class I remember learning that even though being the President is a pretty high-powered gig, the real power is having local office. That’s where you really affect people’s everyday lives (thanks, Cook County President Todd Stroger for our fabulous 10% sales tax!). Every time I go to a community meeting, I’m more convinced that that’s true.
Last night, the Boy and I went to back-to-back meetings about some public art that will be commissioned for our neighborhood. The Chicago Public Art Program is in charge of these–they’re the agency responsible for getting and maintaining all the new public art in the city. By “new,” I mean post-1978 (so some of the big warrior-on-horse statues aren’t included), and by “public art,” I mean big artwork (sculptures, mosaics, mobiles) in airports, train stations, libraries, police stations, etc.
The first meeting sought neighborhood input for the artwork that will go up in the Belmont L Station. It’s undergoing renovations, and something like 1.33% of the construction budget for public buildings needs to go toward artwork. Personally, I think that’s pretty cool, and it certainly makes enjoying public transportation a little easier. Anyway, CPA had solicited some artists to create concepts for a large mural along the back wall of the station and two cement poles that you walk past after going through the turnstile. Now they presented the six and took in our thoughts, and then they’ll decide which artist gets the commission.
How many people weighed in on this, a project that will run, oh, I believe a good $100,000? Maybe 75-100, and I probably counted the CPA staffers as well. [My favorite? A funky train designed by David Lee Csicsko, and his was popular, along with a cool abstract mosaic of a skyline made with tiles that were imprinted with fish to symbolize water, leaves for grass, butterflies for sky, and gears for buildings.] That’s it. A handful of us helped decide what a good 10,000 people will look at every day. And they thought that was a really good turnout.
Even fewer people stuck around for the second meeting, which was the initial discussion for art to be installed at the new police station by Addison and Halsted. Granted, no big decisions had to be made, but it was interesting to hear the process and talk through where the art should be located–in the building lobby? the community room? on the parking structure?
Going to both of these proved to me that if you’re willing to make the effort to participate in the decisions being made about your neighborhood, town, or city, you can actually have a big effect on a lot of people’s worlds. They may seem small–like whether or not a restaurant gets to open a sidewalk cafe in the summer–but a lot of small things really do add up.
January 28th, 2009 at 9:12 am
I’d call that a good turnout, too! I would have guessed you guys would be among only a handful of attendees. I think one problem is that people don’t know these meetings exist (I wouldn’t have if you hadn’t talked about them)…it seems like you need to search them out, which is something most people wouldn’t think or care to do. And, primarily, speaking for myself at least, I think the vast majority of people could not care less. Personally, I’m thinking, why on earth would I possibly care about art at the police station? Hopefully I will never have to BE at the police station. And the El? All I want is to get on and off it ASAP.
Could you expand a bit on what draws you to participate? I can more easily understand wanting to put your two cents in on an issue like whether the restaurant next to your apartment can have outdoor seating or how long your El stop will be closed for construction, but art at the police station? You’re a busy person, so what makes you want to find time for such things?
January 28th, 2009 at 10:07 am
Well, the meetings were back-to-back, so we just stayed for the art at the police station. I wouldn’t have gone to that otherwise, I think. I did like the second meeting though because it showed me some insight on how big construction projects worked, how public art in the city functions, how in a world where instant information and speed is praised, most of life has to be thought of in terms of long projects (police station won’t be finished until 2010). I also chatted with my alderman a bit, and the Boy asked the Police Commander a question about some disturbing graffiti that’s popped up on our street.
I like the idea of art in the station–even if I only see it for a couple of seconds as I walk past it, it’s something different to look at. If I was waiting for a train at a station where there was art on the platform, it’d be nice to look at while I waiting. Commuting is hard enough–if you have something around to take the edge off, it helps.
The head of the police station said that having art around makes for a better work environment, that the cops do like it. I suppose it’s like putting something on your own walls–you could leave them white and bare, but why? If they’re going to put some art in, I think it’s better to invest in something that’s going to have more quality and permanence.
When we got to the first meeting, the agency folks were asking how people had heard of the meeting. It’s been posted on the CTA website, the Public Art Agency’s site, and they even took out ads in papers. They got a few mentions from some internet press (someone mentioned Gapers Block). I think the Boy saw a flier at the Belmont stop, which is why he mentioned going.
The most difficult part of getting involved locally is figuring out what the heck is going on and navigating the system. I do think community groups–though I can only speak to Chicago, which may have its own issues due to size–do a lousy job of promoting themselves. We only know about the ones we’re involved in because years ago, a restaurant owner asked us to go to a meeting and support her on an issue. Not many people attend these meetings regularly, unless there’s a big issue out/the group does some promotion. It’s also bad when you have the stigma of being a renter too–owners seem to think renters are lousy and don’t care about the community they live in. While that can be true for a segment of the population, there are a lot of renters who do care, but for many reasons, they aren’t property owners. You really have to seek out these groups, and that can be a real pain.
January 28th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
I was there too! Thanks for sharing — great to hear your perspective. I posted about the meeting as well: http://carfreechicago.com/node/555
Glad to hear you participate in your neighborhood association. Are you familiar with Lake View Citizens Council? I’m guessing you’ve been to one of the “branch” block clubs. As you noted about the art meeting, these things often don’t get the turnout you’d hope for, which seems even more serious for neighborhood associations making recommendations for zoning and planning on behalf of the neighborhood. When I rented in the neighborhood, I had the same frustration about neighborhood groups not seeming to have the interest of non-owners in mind, despite renters being the majority. I decided I wanted to get involved after hearing comments at my first community meeting opposing studio and one-bedroom condos because some of the single-family home owners didn’t want more of “those kind of people,” referring of course, to people like me who could only afford to buy a studio or one-bedroom. So it’s great to hear you’re also participating and helping to represent an under-represented majority in the neighborhood.
January 28th, 2009 at 11:50 pm
Yep, I am a bit involved with LVCC, but I go more to my local neighborhood group’s meeting. I love the discrimination against affordable housing…..oh, wait, I feel another rant coming on.
January 29th, 2009 at 1:25 am
OK, you guys need to meet each other since the Boy and Lee from Carfree Chicago are both on the same Board of Directors. Also, curious about rants - non-owner, affordable housing discrimination, etc. - but it is probably better to discuss in person.
January 29th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Thanks for your comment, Y. Agreed that it’s better to discuss in person, but mostly it’s a general tone that comes up at these meetings–not every meeting, but there will be comments now and again, and since I am a renter, I’m highly sensitized to them. Although I’m not in the market to buy real estate now, I can still look around and see pretty much only luxury new development–and in the last few years, that’s all that’s seemed to go up in this neighborhood. In the police station art meeting, the alderman said he had to fight to keep Inter-American School where it was–most of the students are Hispanic, and a good deal of the Hispanic community that was here has been pushed west. The alderman wanted to keep that diversity in the neighborhood, since it’s been here for decades.