Last Saturday, I attended the Public Art walk around the Ithaca Commons. The group met in the Rose House Lobby and walked to the parking lot next to Aladdin’s in Collegetown together. This is where the tour began. Our tour guide, Caleb, gave us some background on his work with the Ithaca Public Art Commission and asked what we liked the most about the public art in Ithaca. One student liked the uniqueness of the art and how it is displayed in various forms – painting, sculpture around the Commons. Another student liked all of the colors and the vibrancy that the art adds to the community.

We first saw some of the murals painted on the walls of the parking garage. One was done by a group of 12-year-old students. Another was done by a famous artist whose work was featured in a documentary. The subject of the murals in the parking garage varied greatly. On one wall we saw a large, painted tiger. On another wall we saw a mother, child, and sheep standing in a meadow with a poem incorporated into the mural. This demonstrates the diversity in the artists’ backgrounds and in the types of works that can be seen around the Commons. I was actually surprised by the fact that many of the pieces were created by artists from around the world as opposed to local artists. The Art Commission notifies artists of the available spaces and requests drafts of the potential pieces. Then, there is a more extensive process that occurs in order to get the pieces approved. We ventured towards the Commons, looking at the electrical boxes along the way.

One student asked a great question about whether or not the Art Commission foresees any potential issues with real estate and having spaces like the parking garage taken over and used for other purposes. Caleb has not seen this being an issue in the past and does not think it will be a problem in the future. The spaces may get repurposed, but not removed completely. GRF Esmerelda added that the art being “public” is a consideration. Such initiatives do require funding and community support. In other cities around the world, such works may not as encouraged. While the future of public art in Ithaca does not seem to be in danger, I do believe that this is a discussion that needs to be had at some point.

My favorite piece was on one of the electrical boxes. At the moment, I do not remember which country the artist was originally from. However, I do remember Caleb saying that he was able to complete the piece within just a couple of hours and that the artist contributes public paintings in the poorer neighborhoods of his home country. The colors are so rich and it is empowering that the subject is looking upwards. The front and back of the electrical box are pictured below.

The walk took place on Halloween, so we were able to see all of the adults and children dressed up. Because of the Harry Potter event in the Commons, there were many wizards and witches wandering around – even a Dolores Umbridge! This definitely added some spice to the walk! In its own way, it was a form of public art. I highly recommend that others explore the art in the Commons when they have a chance. It is a great excursion that is close to campus!