Thursday, August 28, 2014

Social Commentary Or Act Of Vandals?

I took this photo last year of the sculpture of jazz great Oscar Peterson outside the National Arts Centre. It's my favourite statue in the city.


This second picture is from the Ottawa Citizen. The other night someone painted around the eyes with gold paint. The sculptor suggested it might be a commentary on the state of racial relations in the United States. On the other hand, it could be nothing more than petty vandalism. Oscar's widow didn't like the turn of events, according to the news. The NAC said that they had security footage handed over to the police, and were quickly having the paint removed.



41 comments:

  1. I would say it's both (commentary and vandalism). I would have preferred the vandal had just Photoshop'd a picture of this sculpture to look like this and then posted it on his Facebook page.

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  2. I'm gonna go with "act of vandalism" on this one. >:-(

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  3. "act of vandalism" is the exact definition!

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  4. If they had painted it all gold might have been a statement but that was just vandalism

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  5. They have to keep their hands off art, it is sure vandalism.

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  6. Always someone who thinks he or she has something to contribute.

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  7. c est vraiment n importe quoi honteux !

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  8. I can't believe the things people do

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  9. I think this is a pure and poor act of vandalism. It's a shame to do something like this with a piece of art.

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  10. @Stuart: that would have been more appropriate.

    @Tamera: that's where my instinct is going.

    @Karl: and it bothers me.

    @Bill: I hope they're caught soon.

    @Marianne: some people don't see it that way.

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  11. @Revrunner: even when they don't, yes.

    @Audrey: merci.

    @Jane and Chris: I think that was the most important reaction.

    @Tanya: it is.

    @Hilary: people can be thoughtless.

    @Jan: it really is.

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  12. Almost too 'perfect'. Social commentary is where I'm falling. Gold tears. Wow!

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  13. No matter why this was done it is wrong. Even if it was for 'arts' sake it still is vandalism. MB

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  14. don't make a statement by defacing art, i say.

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  15. I have stopped trying to understand the minority of mindless morons that are regrettably part of the human race. Of course, we have to tolerate them in the name of liberty...tempting though, isn't it?

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  16. I'm right there with your commenters above. It's just wrong.

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  17. I have to say that this is definitely wrong.

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  18. Totally senseless! I hope they catch the vandals!

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  19. @Birdman: if it was, it's still wrong to have done it.

    @MB: there's an artist, if you want to call him that, up here who thinks that throwing his own blood at walls, or on the art of others, constitutes art.

    @Tex: I agree.

    @Mike: I have to wonder...

    @Sharon: It's disrespectful.

    @Luis: I think so too.

    @EG: with luck, yes.

    @Whisk: yes, it is.

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  20. Shame on them! If they have something to say, they should say it. Leave public art alone!

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  21. Idiot or artist without manners? Looks kinda cool. Thanks Canada for the Petersons ⭐

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  22. Commentary or not, still seems like vandalism to me!

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  23. If you need to comment, find another way...

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  24. Probably just idiots with a can of gold paint!

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  25. @VP: I'm inclined to think so.

    @Judy: they really should.

    @Cloudia: Oscar was a gift.

    @Cheryl: me too.

    @Ciel: there are more productive ways.

    @RedPat: I wonder how they'll feel when they get arrested.

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  26. That is TERRIBLE! It really bothers me.

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  27. How sad is that and a dreadful act of vandalism. I can only imagine how this gentleman's widow must have felt.

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  28. I'm saying it looks like vandalism no matter what the intention. His wife is right. They had no right to do that.

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  29. Even if someone was trying to make a statement, it's still vandalism. How upsetting for his wife.

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  30. I love social commentary, but not vandalism. Hopefully, it can be removed easily. I'm anxious for you to see my Friday post. I'd like to know if you've had this exhibit in Ottawa.

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  31. @Norma: It feels that way to me.

    @Jack: me too.

    @Denise: she was quite unhappy.

    @Mari: they did not.

    @Debs: with good reason.

    @Greensboro: I'll look for it tomorrow!

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  32. Well, it is kind of artistic but I agree with Stuart. Changing a photo of it would have made the same point without damaging the statue.

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  33. Really bugs me to see this sort of thing William, hope the culprits show up on the cct footage!

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  34. Ah, I know. They said there is a video of the vandals. Hope they get smacked upside the head for it.
    (ツ) from Cottage Country Ontario , ON, Canada!

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  35. Regardless of the reason (if it is indeed social criticism) it is defacing something that is NOT yours. I say, "Get your own canvas, create your own art" and then do as you wish. Vandalism, pure and simple.

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  36. @Linda: fortunately it was easily removed.

    @Grace: I don't know all these years later what happened to the case.

    @Jennifer: they deserve it.

    @Kate: that's true.

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