Public Art Privatization and the Paradox of Choice
Cheers RVA!
Today will be mostly sunny with a high of 92. The evening humidity continues, with storms likely later in the week.
the juice:
The Richmond Street Art Festival board is addressing the new sports and beverage concept developing at the historic Haxall plant down by the canal walk.
They issued a statement via Facebook saying they would not be a creative partner in the new development at the plant, which was originally constructed in 1899 and has changed multiple developers’ hands in the past few decades.
The artists who created the murals understand the economic reality, but express the original works of art were meant to be in a public space, free to be explored by everyone, not the backdrop of a private enterprise.
The Street Art Festival Board has long known the space would one day be repurposed and have advocated for the space in front of the plant to be a permanent public park.
Instead, two Padel ball courts will be installed just a couple feet in front of the murals with 20’ high glass walls surrounding the courts.
The artists who created the iconic murals have been notified and will have the choice to keep their artwork up or repaint their work in the original tan color.
Artist Hamilton Glass notes:
This space was transformed in three days in 2012 and again 2022 and it changed the way public art was seen by so many in Richmond — it opened people’s eyes to our collective creativity and opened doors to so many new opportunities for artists
the pulp:
A man was shot and killed in Shockoe Bottom on Friday Night. Two other shootings occurred early Saturday: a woman was shot in the Fan near Robinson and Main St., and a man was shot in Hillside Court on Southside. There have been 32 homicides in Richmond so far this year, as compared to 43 at this time last year. The majority of incidents this year have occurred in just two council districts, the 3rd (Northside) and 6th (Gateway).
The Mercury is reporting Virginia’s School Bus Driver Vacancy rate is decreasing, from 15% in 2021-2022, to 10% last year. State Legislation passed two years ago amended reporting requirements so the VDOE now collects such data.
the dive:
A recent article in Slate suggests teen anxiety is only partially influenced by Jonathon Haidt’s (author of ‘The Anxious Generation’) theory that today’s mental health challenges are directly correlated and caused by the rise in smart phone usage.
The author, Alex Tzelnic, suggests along with phones and natural teenage behavior, it’s the abundance of choice in today’s world that also contributes to teen anxiety.
This line of thinking is similar to Barry Schwartz’s 2004 book, ‘The Paradox of Choice’ , which argues having too many choices can actually lead to less satisfaction as expectations are unrealistically high, and any subsequent dissatisfaction with the choice is attributed to ourselves, the decision makers.
Tzelnic writes:
Today’s teens face a yawning chasm of potentiality. “The natural limitations of human existence are the only limitations life imposes on contemporary Americans,” wrote Greenfeld. “In comparison to other societies, our sphere of freedom, and choice, is greatly extended.” It’s not just about the freedom to pick (or avoid) a religion, and whether or not to have kids. It’s the choice of where to live, what to buy (there are so many choices about what to buy), what to decorate your walls with—everything down to how to groom the hairs on your head. Teens today are taught they can be whatever they dream.
Read the full article here.
the vibe:
Have an engaging day RVA!
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