DIA wants the Landing to start with a park

[Ken_FSU]

Setups from that event were worthy of being duplicated every weekend since but, this is Jax, and no one learned or salvaged a single lesson from it despite the obvious evidence that, at little cost, these closures would go far to enliven Downtown.  No, subsidizing the Four Seasons for tens of millions will do more  .

Why can't it be both?

---

Article on the artist behind the sculpture.

https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2021/07/23/meet-the-filipino-american-artist-behind-the-151-foot-jax-sculpture-coming-to-new-downtown-park/

[bl8jaxnative]

Without shops and restaurants supporting it on either side now it will never look busy as it was during the Super bowl.

I love it when urbanistas say the quite parts out loud --> It's all about the aesthetics.   

[Tacachale]

^No, it's about street level vibrancy. That comes from clustering in a walkable setting.

[MusicMan]

So, from what I can see, the view of the giant sculpture is designed to be read from the South Bank, and everyone in the CBD will see:

xaJ       

?

[jaxoNOLE]

I suspect a head-on view from the CBD will be obstructed by the Wells Fargo building and the future hotel development on the eastern pad. It will likely look pretty abstract from anywhere on the Northbank, if I had to guess. The video from P&W had some views closer up when walking in and around the sculpture.

[MusicMan]

Instead of "xaJ",how about something that looks amazing from any point of view?

[jaxoNOLE]

What is your idea of a piece of public art that appeals to 100% of the people who see it?

[Florida Power And Light]

Fascinating to see Lori Boyer so enthralled with the Artsy Pipe.

Hey Lori...... the Pharmacy has called and left message- your heavy psychedelic meds refill is ready.

[Tacachale]

What is your idea of a piece of public art that appeals to 100% of the people who see it?

Lol!

[MusicMan]

Spelling "xaJ" in big shiny letters does not meet my idea of a public art piece under any circumstance. It's awful.

[Florida Power And Light]

A better alternative to fixed giant metal Edifice;
Inflatables! Yes, now that is engineered merchandising!
Will meet any " Vision" and " Public Input" parameters.
Current technology provides for  creation and production of Giant inflatable structures.
An inflatable structure device, capable of inflated who knows what, all sorts of designs and images, removed and replaced with a new structure on a moments'notice or whim,could anchor the Landing, and for only a couple millions more $ We will even include the ability to move the Giant Inflatable Image Device off of the Landing property. Maybe even a 400 foot Yacht owned by an NFL Football Team owner, or inland..... Lane Avenue and Park today, the scene of a mid day Convenience Store shooting......after all, that is gettin' close to Downtown.

[JaGoaT]

Instead of "xaJ",how about something that looks amazing from any point of view?

I thought the sculpture shown in renderings was a place holder for a sculpture "that symbolically defines Jax" not an actual Jax sculpture lol

[jcjohnpaint]

Music Man I totally agree.

[Ken_FSU]

Here are a few rendered views of the sculpture from the Northbank, MM.

As others have mentioned, it's going to look abstract from the rear (particularly with how large it is), and most definitely won't read like a contextless xaJ. Don't forget, there will also be a water feature on the rear.

Part of the DIA's judgement criteria for public art was that it had to look interesting from all angles. 

Interesting to hear the debates around town on the piece.

I remain smitten with it, think it's awesome, and hope it gets built with a mirrored finish.

Two things though:

"The Jax" is a terrible name for it, even if it's a placeholder.

Also, I've heard enough people say that it looks like "sex," "derp," or "lex" at a glance that there's got to be something to it. Hope Jefrë tweaks the final decision enough to where it's a little more easily legible and can't possibly to misinterpreted for a word we don't want it to be misinterpreted for.

[jaxoNOLE]

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.