DIA wants the Landing to start with a park

[Ken_FSU]

The charging bull in NYC literally looks like butt from one side and still remains iconic. Some people even prefer their photo op on that side. The world-renowned Chicago bean is an abstract amorphous blob of the same material we're talking about here. And don't even get me started on how the St. Louis arch, viewed sideways, doesn't appear to be an arch at all -- it's just a stick in the sky!!!

Point being, you've every right to dislike the art, but similar criticisms can be leveled at many of the great public art fixtures in the world and it doesn't diminish them in the slightest. Heck, if we get a few million people to come to Jax and make fun of our xaJ while drinking a beer in the park...that's a win.

THE HUMANITY 

[Florida Power And Light]

The charging bull in NYC literally looks like butt from one side and still remains iconic. Some people even prefer their photo op on that side. The world-renowned Chicago bean is an abstract amorphous blob of the same material we're talking about here. And don't even get me started on how the St. Louis arch, viewed sideways, doesn't appear to be an arch at all -- it's just a stick in the sky!!!

Point being, you've every right to dislike the art, but similar criticisms can be leveled at many of the great public art fixtures in the world and it doesn't diminish them in the slightest. Heck, if we get a few million people to come to Jax and make fun of our xaJ while drinking a beer in the park...that's a win.

THE HUMANITY 

This is Jacksonville at it's best.
Not near the energy of Consolidation and press images of that time, after all, that period was some sort of Climax, but today's chants are right in line.

[MusicMan]

Those mock up's help. Thank you.  I think id prefer a giant, shiny DNA double helix as a monument to humanity instead , but if 'xaJ' is it, I'll go take a picture with it. 

[Todd_Parker]

Coming soon to a downtown Jacksonville gift shop...

Front of t-shirt: "Jax"
Back of t-shirt: "xaJ"

Problem solved.

[jcjohnpaint]

Why I didn't say anything until now. Fine arts is my field and this piece is kitsch in every way, but I do understand the plus sides as well. I just wouldn't call it art.

[Tacachale]

Why I didn't say anything until now. Fine arts is my field and this piece is kitsch in every way, but I do understand the plus sides as well. I just wouldn't call it art.

It's a work of imagination and skill created for aesthetic purposes and/or to express the creator's feelings and ideas. It's art. It may be good art or bad art, or high art or low art, but art is what it is.

[jcjohnpaint]

Sorry, but it is decorative craft. It does not take part in the long and difficult conversation of the history of art and aesthetics in any way, period.  That being said, I do understand it's appeal as selfie fodder bringing lots of tourists to Jacksonville. I'm fine with that, but call it what it is. Honestly, I would prefer a Socialist Realism sculpture of Curry, Boyer, and Mickey Mouse holding hands

[jcjohnpaint]

I can say I wish The Cummer and MOCA were part of the conversation. It would be nice to have an Amish Kapoor.

[Tacachale]

Sorry, but it is decorative craft. It does not take part in the long and difficult conversation of the history of art and aesthetics in any way, period.  That being said, I do understand it's appeal as selfie fodder bringing lots of tourists to Jacksonville. I'm fine with that, but call it what it is. Honestly, I would prefer a Socialist Realism sculpture of Curry, Boyer, and Mickey Mouse holding hands

What it is: art.

[jcjohnpaint]

 

[Charles Hunter]

From Facebook, here is Jimmy Midyette's explanation

For what it's worth, it's layered. The "I" is behind the "J," which isn't cursive. The heart doubles as an "a." Altogether, it's
I
❤
Jax

and for what it is worth, most of the people commenting don't see it

[Florida Power And Light]

Why I didn't say anything until now. Fine arts is my field and this piece is kitsch in every way, but I do understand the plus sides as well. I just wouldn't call it art.

It's a work of imagination and skill created for aesthetic purposes and/or to express the creator's feelings and ideas. It's art. It may be good art or bad art, or high art or low art, but art is what it is.

Wonderful.
No public/ tax payer payment.

[jcjohnpaint]

From Facebook, here is Jimmy Midyette's explanation

For what it's worth, it's layered. The "I" is behind the "J," which isn't cursive. The heart doubles as an "a." Altogether, it's
I
❤
Jax

and for what it is worth, most of the people commenting don't see it

I rest my case

[jaxoNOLE]

Art is just one of those things ... arguing about it is almost as fruitless as arguing on the intern... oh, crap. Nevermind.

[vicupstate]

This discussion reminds me of a segment I saw on TV once. A 'famous' NYC artist created a 'piece' that was a urinal without the plumbing.  That was it. It wasn't painted or anything, there was nothing else to it. Just a urinal without the silver plumbing pipes. It sold for $1 million and that was decades ago, when that was even more money than it is now.