Rhode Island Feeds

Taking the stuffing out of stuff we have to look at
Long-term public art has a greater responsibility to the community, to the public, than regular gallery art.

Long-term public art has a greater responsibility to the community, to the public, than regular gallery art. Gallery art can afford to be crazier, more acid, more painful, more anti-social, and more just plain bad, because our experience of it is temporary. But long-term public art, like architecture, is something we have to live with. And usually we, the public, have no say over what public art or architecture that is. I do not mean that we want public art or architecture with no teeth. (Bland, saccharine, toothless stuff is one of the major failings of public art.) Only that it should be a companionable beast.

A key aspect of public art that’s often left out is the public. Usually, the public is not involved in choosing public art; that decision is given to small committees or individuals or private businesses. Individuals or small groups are often best for selecting great art, so I’m not trying to change the selection process.

That said, public art — even works we hate — should be given a chance. Years. Sometimes it takes a while for something to grow on you. Sometimes it takes a while just to figure something out. Sometimes something that looked cool at first becomes trite.

But after giving public art a fair shot, the public has the right to impeach bad public art. I don’t mean for bad public art to be destroyed. Just removed. Perhaps some other community would benefit from some quality time with it. And new public art should take its place.

Read more

Less is indeed more
Which came first, the chicken or the egg? In the case of Machete , the Mexploitation picture directed by Robert Rodriguez and Ethan Maniquis, it was the trailer.

Cena holds his own
Indie-film fans could hardly have imagined the day that Patricia Clarkson would share the screen with the likes of WWE stud John Cena.

To be honest, I am not a fan of Panera Bread, but people seem to love it. So, good news everybody!, according to the Capital Center Commission meeting agenda, Panera is coming to Providence Place. Word is it will be going to the space vacated recently by Napa Valley Grille. My personal feelings about Panera aside, this is good news for Providence Place and good news for Francis Street. Having that street side space in the mall vacant was doing no favors for the street life on Francis Street. Panera is a passive seating environment, so people will be able to grab their sandwiches and sit at tables on the street without waiting to be seated as they are at Cheescake Factory or Joe’s American or other Francis Street restuarants. People on the streets is good news in my book.

And, I may not like Panera, but I often hanker for an iced coffee when I’m in Providence Place and never want to drag my ass up to the 3rd floor to go to Dunkin Donuts. So likely, at some point, you will see me in Panera ordering an iced coffee.

CAPITAL CENTER COMMISSION
MEETING NOTICE

Wednesday, September 15, 2010 – 12:00 Noon
Department of Planning and Development
400 Westminster Street, 4th Floor Auditorium
Providence, RI 02903

Capital Center Parcels

1. Roll Call

2. Minutes
Approval of Commission meeting minutes of June 9, 2010
Acceptance of DRC meeting minutes of April 13, 2010 and May 4, 2010

3. Parcel 13: Providence Place

Image from Google Street View

Proposal by Panera Bread to alter the existing storefront and to install awnings and signage on the Francis Street elevation. Presenter: Jim Mandeville

4. Parcels 3E, 3W, 4E and 4W: Parking Lots

Image from Google Street View
Request by Capital Properties, Inc for an extension of interim parking approval. Presenter: Todd Turcotte, Capital Properties

5. Parcel 4W: Parking Lot
Proposal by Capital Properties, Inc. to install a new concrete stairway in the existing slope to provide access from the parking lot to street level. Presenter: Todd Turcotte, Capital Properties

6. Adjournment

Contact Christopher Ise with the Department of Planning and Development at 351-4300 ext. 521 or cise@providenceri.com if you have any questions regarding this meeting.
posted 9/8/10

The last two items are to do with the massive swathe of parking lots behind the Citizens Building. Surface parking is not allowed in the Capital Center District, so item 4 is requesting an extension of a waiver to allow for it. Item 5 creates a stairwell so people don’t have to crawl up the slope. I guess if we’re going to have parking, and in this economy, it seems we are (nothing is being built here for quite some time), we should at least make it easier for those drivers to transition into pedestrians.

Share/Bookmark

© Greater City: Providence, 2010 | Permalink | No comment |

projo: Wakefield honored for service http://bit.ly/bpVzGZ

projo: Not the audition Dustin Richardson was hoping for http://bit.ly/cbLctQ

projo: September try outs http://bit.ly/93WTJF

Victor Moffitt and John Robitaille are seeking the Republican nomination in the September primary election.

Music and dance workshop on French Folk Music with Ex Pirata International. Tickets: $15/adults, $10/seniors. LeFoyer Club, 151 Fountain Street.

Location: Pawtucket, RI

projo: Water restrictions lifted in Narragansett and South Kingstown http://bit.ly/bdHDf3

Superior Court Judge Netti Vogel calls Marcus Huffman's actions "out of a horror movie."

Superior Court Judge Netti Vogel calls Marcus Huffman's actions "out of a horror movie."

Observe how to make porketta (Italian pork roast) and enjoy a meal of porketta, roasted potatoes, salad, and vegetable. $19.50. 476 Rathbun

Location: Woonsocket, RI

projo: Providence felon with gun gets 37-month federal sentence http://bit.ly/bSbDBk

U.S. Sens. Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse announce federal grants intended to keep more homes from going into foreclosure.

projo: Scutaro improved, back at shortstop http://bit.ly/bb4wkh

projo: Cicilline acknowledges his mayor's pay raises were a mistake http://bit.ly/aUjaZX

projo: RISD students get showcase at New York Fashion Week http://bit.ly/a9VFkv

projo: Man charged in sexual assault on East Bay Bike Path http://bit.ly/cIMKWH

The lack of an animal control officer in Central Falls is having an impact on the city.