Huckleberries Online

Artist Explains Ganesha Work

Posted by DFO

July 11, 2011 4:36 p.m. • 4 comments

Artist Rick Davis left the following comment on the Dogwalk Musings blog re: why he designed the controversial Ganesha public art work that will be on display in downtown Coeur d'Alene for the next year: “The reason I originally chose to do this piece was at the suggestion of my Yoga teacher. But as the project progressed, and I did more research into Ganesha, the themes that surround him seemed to be unfolding in my life. So he became a 3 1/2 year teaching/learning moment for me.” Adds Dogwalk Musings: “Art, no matter what form it takes, is probably the most subjective commodity in the world. We either like what we see or we don't. As with this month's Art Walk. What shouldn't be forgotten, however, in viewing the finished product, there is a process behind it. As Mr. Davis points out, his piece became a teaching/learning moment. Certainly nothing sinister nor intended to offend.” More here. (SR file photo/Kathy Plonka, of Ganesha)

Question: Do you support public art? Or do you consider it to be a waste of money?

Four comments on this post so far. Add yours!

Norther on July 11 at 5:06 p.m.
Both. Currently, we have far more important things to spend money on. When we can afford it, however, I would love to be able to support public art, including the ganesha statue and the St. Frankie and the Moose. I really like the moose.
stebbijo on July 11 at 6:29 p.m.
No, I like the public art, now that I know it brings back revenue and promotes the artist.

When we came back to Idaho after living away for a few years, I loved the moose - sorry to see them go. Now, I understand why.

This Ganesha stuff just makes it more interesting. Looking forward to the coming years and their themes and the only reason to go downtown - at least once. I think a nice theme would be a car theme - I think it would also be nice to see sculptures that incorporate trees.
Cindy_H on July 11 at 6:54 p.m.
Um. So, it turns out I wrote about Rick Davis here: http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/dec/31/steel-panther-embodies-mead-highs-community/
Hope all those Mead parents aren’t going to demand the removal of the panther sculpture!
stebbijo on August 11 at 11:45 a.m.
His website has lots of stuff already compiled - so we will have to add Cindy’s contribution! I will have to go to town and get some paper and I will start to print off all of these articles as part of the submission, then before the deadline I will appeal to the HBO crowd and collaborating individuals for support. I will turn it into a scanned PDF document .

I will not, I repeat, I will not nominate next year for any artwork near the wastewater treatment plant - that would have to be something like money flying off trees or something before I did that. In fact, that is a good idea, someone should do that sculpture - a nice tree with bills intertwined through the branches flying in the wind!

I would go see that.

I need help, what category do think Davis fits in?

Excellence in Arts
Education in Arts
Support of Arts

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D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.