Reader Mark Miller has submitted a video of the young muralists behind "Campy Washington" describing the work, in their own words.
The project, being painted at in Camp Washington, is a pop art depiction George Washington in colonial drag with a halo of flying pigs, surrounded by a cow's head, a robot, and a gorilla.
Miller recorded the two-and-a-half-minute video on July 18 during the third annual ArtWorks Day, which was held at the Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center in Covington.
Many of the answers given by the muralists revolved around the idea of "campy".
"Clearly the intention of the artists was not to disrespect the father of our country," Miller says. "Rather, they were making cheeky, whimsical fun of the neighborhood’s name. A neighborhood, incidentally, that desperately needs a little brightening-up."
Artist Scott Donaldson can also be seen giving his input on the design.
"I don’t think they meant for this to be provocative art, but that’s how it turned out anyway," Miller says. "Perhaps it was ill-advised; it’s definitely irreverent; but the view that this is somehow culturally heretical is a bit over the top."
A Building Cincinnati post last Thursday resulted in 27 reader comments, most of which panned the work.
Miller says that, even though the economy is soft and there are significant issues being discussed in this election year, it's no reason to lose our sense of humor.
"Smile at it if you can, shake your head if you must, but Camp Washington really is a little brighter and better because of it," he says.
Try if the embedded video player does not work.
Previous reading on BC:
Not everyone loves 'Campy Washington' (7/17/08)
Winnebago Watch: Week 2
41 minutes ago
4 comments:
Miller says that, even though the economy is soft and there are significant issues being discussed in this election year, it's no reason to lose our sense of humor.
What?? Did anyone complain about the mural because the economy was bad, or that it's an election year? We complained because the mural is disrespectful and juvenile.
Camp Washington is the place my father worked in for 50 years. It's where their church is located. It's where a lot of people used to live, and more than a few still do.
I wonder how many of these teenage "artists" will be proud of their work in Camp Washington 5 or 10 years down the road. I wonder how many took their grandparents to see their handiwork.
Is it fair game to make fun of something because of its name? When somebody creates a mural on MLK Blvd. of Martin Luther King in drag, then I'll believe they are sincere. Otherwise, it's just a cheap shot at a poor neighborhood.
Twenty years ago some folks raised a big stink over the flying pig statues at Sawyer Point becaue they poked fun at our Porkopolis past.
http://citybeat.com/2000-06-15/bq.shtml
Today others have their skivvies in a bunch over a mural because it's a comical parody of a neighborhood's name.
Cincinnati is well known as a prolific and thriving arts center. Its also known for a stern overreaction to avant-garde art, like the Flying Pig and Maplethorpe flaps, and now this.
So who's REALLY dragging down our reputation, the artists or the critics?!?
When somebody creates a mural on MLK Blvd. of Martin Luther King in drag, then I'll believe they are sincere.
You're missing the point of the Camp Washington mural which, whether you agree with its message or not, does make sense in its location.
I posted this on the prior story...let's keep in mind that this mural is the result of a community-based process, not just something some teens or some outside force came up with.
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