Tue
Apr 15 2008
06:00 pm
By: StaceyDiamond

You can get a great view of the South Knox water tower near the Broadway and Central area, I can't imagine how it is to live right by it. I noticed its been painted a bluish color now. I think it should be turned over to the public art committee and changed with the seasons, a lovely dogwood scene would be appropriate right now.

Tamara Shepherd's picture

Great idea!

"I think it should be turned over to the public art committee and changed with the seasons..."

Great idea, Stacey, but who is this "public art committee?" Should we fear that they might paint it orange? Maybe a private art committee...

FooManChu's picture

You can see it from Bearden Hill on a clear day

The big brains down at KUB need to lose their job given their wholesale disregard for the bluff and the things built on it.

K eep
U nemployable
B eaurocrats

Take a hike Minta.

Bill Lyons's picture

I don't think you have to worry.

"Great idea, Stacey, but who is this "public art committee?" Should we fear that they might paint it orange? Maybe a private art committee..."

I don't think you have to worry about the public art committee, assuming that the recommendation of the task force regarding its creation comes to pass. A council workshop is scheduled for May 15th at 5pm in the Large Assembly Room of the City County Building.

(link...)

S Carpenter's picture

Why oh Why

Did they have to build that thing on the axis of Broaday like it's some kind of Roman monument?

OK< it's there and per Stacy's suggestion: Let's paint it up like a Cheeseburger.

Tamara Shepherd's picture

Calder-esque?

I say hang stuff from it...you know, kinda turn it from a phallic sculpture into a Calder mobile?

Lobster's picture

Erect a monstrosity of a

Erect a monstrosity of a water tower? No problem. Put up cell towers on every hilltop? No problem. Line every major roadway in town with billboards? No problem. Start over again with digital billboards, bigger and bolder than ever? No problem. Tear the heck off a mountaintop to harvest the coal? No problem. But, want to try and construct an actual artistic creation in good ol Knoxville? Forget about it. This public art committee that we are so often reminded "not to fear" will tell the community what constitutes art and what's just annoying public clutter. I do trust them so.

JaHu's picture

Finally South Knoxville has

Finally South Knoxville has a landmark that can be admired from all over town.

michael kaplan's picture

Oh yeah. This photo is

Oh yeah. This photo is unretouched and shot from Redflex Junction.

Factchecker's picture

That's what I (don't) like about the south

I do trust them so.

It depends on who "they/them" are. Maybe the problem with all those eyesores you cite is that there were no public committees that had to be consulted when they went up. Just greed unchecked by business friendly gummint.

Struggling Local Artist's picture

Yes, why would you trust

Yes, why would you trust real artists and leaders in the art commmittee when anyone can just throw anything out there. Or should be trust elected officials to make the decisions. Knee jerk opposition to a public art committee is really, well, knee jerk. Think about it. It is one of the best things that the government is thinking about doing. We need your support.

gonzone's picture

A proposal

As I view it I keep imagining it as some mechanical monster from Star Wars.
The phallic symbolism never occurred to me!

If one were to put something pipe-like out horizontally it could make an elephant to symbolize the area body politic.

"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro."
Hunter S. Thompson

Shannon's picture

Not so much phallic symbols

Not so much phallic symbols in this town as giant spheres. One of the best potential slogans I ever heard: "Knoxville, this city's got balls."

Up Goose Creek's picture

New tower

All this dicussion of the water tower and no mention of the ginormous new cell tower on Sharps ridge west?

I'm greeted by its iridescent one-finger salute as I emerge from the Henley tunnel on my way to church sunday mornings.

____________________________________
Less is the new More - Karrie Jacobs

StaceyDiamond's picture

public art

Some small town Tn. courthouse has taken public art off its lawn because they found out the spaghetti monster sculpture was meant to make fun of crazy-anti-evolutionists types. It was on wbir.com a few days ago. The new sculptures around Krutch Park are pretty cool. I also enjoyed the music at this year's Dogwood Arts Fest. At one point Sat. a homeless man was leading a group of children in a conga line.

JaHu's picture

Some small town Tn.

Some small town Tn. courthouse has taken public art off its lawn because they found out the spaghetti monster sculpture was meant to make fun of crazy-anti-evolutionists types.

That would be Crossville, and I doubt if it went over very well after they found out what it meant. They probably had an exorcism on the courthouse lawn to remove any evil spirits.

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