Someone nominated a painting in a hallway in my office complex. They listed the name of the painting and the artist, but nothing about why it is special. My thought is that every “random” painting in every office building shouldn’t be a wayspot even though it is art in a public place. It may not be relevant, but I know that if every hallway painting with the name of the artist was a wayspot, there would be dozens in every building on our campus.
I rejected it as not “Permanent and Distinct”. Is it correct that this shouldn’t be on the map and is this the correct way to review it?
2 Likes
I agree completely. There is a stark difference for me between unique art intentionally displayed as an exhibit for observers, and basic wall decor found in any office building or home that is just an attempt to make a boring wall less boring. Signed or not, every painting or photo was made by someone, so having the name of the artist is not a distinguishing feature for me.
It’s not a 100% correlation, but I tend to look at the place where the “art” is displayed. Is it in a public area where someone would display a work of art for people to enjoy? If yes, I give it consideration. If it’s in the hall or stairwell or someone other place that seems to be more an attempt at basic decor, I am less likely to accept it.
Ultimately, every way point needs to be evaluated on its own merit, but there are definitely things that can sway me one way or the other.
1 Like
I will hop in to give just a little bit of a contrasting view. I used to work for a company owned by a couple who had a huge art collection. They bought one of a kind art pieces. They could only display so much of it at their home, so they hung a lot of it at the office. I remember one piece being quite controversial, and, IMO, NSFW yet it hung in a conference room. These people gave enough money to the local art museum to have a wing named after them.
So, if that office was still around, i think some of those pieces would qualify as wayspots. But as the submitter, i would need to prove that.
The other “art” I’ve helped get approved was a portrait of a person who was a pioneer in a kind of medicine being taught at a medical school. Portraits that represent the foundation of companies and institutions can be eligible, IMO.
1 Like
One of my friends has a job producing and procuring art for a large company here in Cary. Gorgeous paintings with plaques line the hallways every few steps. I know these rotate, because that is her job.
On the other hand, many paintings I see come through voting are just decoration. Any furniture commercial or sitcom will have art in the background like this.
The clarification says:
I think you are correct not to accept “every random painting in every office building” unless they convince you of permanence at that location. I feel that significance to the location can help with that. In my mind, paintings in a hallway seem more like individual tables in a picnic area or disc golf holes along a course.