PDN Poll Question, 8/1314
I answered Yes, but I seem to be in the minority:
Do you see the arts as a driving force in the North Olympic Peninsula economy?
Number of votes cast: 630
Do you see the arts as a driving force in the North Olympic Peninsula economy?
Number of votes cast: 630
posted by Tom Harper at 11:33 AM
20 Comments:
I think they make a huge difference. For example, I've attended several concerts lately that attracted people from all over the region. I see tourists following Port Angeles' self-guided tour of the downtown art, commenting on the pieces; I see tourists posing with the "Avenue of the People" sculptures too. All of these things make our town more attractive to tourists and local people who then shop downtown, eat in local restaurants, etc.
Just an observation from someone who takes the time to notice.
ha
I prefer to get out in nature and enjoy her art, if I want to look at monkey art I can go to the big city.
In fact I went to the big city with Dave today, what a fucking rat race.
If you want to see rusty art go to the Chevy dealership. This is Ford country, on a quite night you can hear a Chevy rust.
Art?
As a Fine Arts Major in college, I have opinions on this. Having traveled throughout Europe, and many other areas, I have an opinion about "art".
Sure, I can get the "art" in most anything. Are we talking rusty metal being an attractor on the scale of the New York Philharmonic, Russian ballet, or the Louvre?
Or, is anything okay, as long as we call it art?
My point? Along the lines of thinking the Olympic Peninsula is a destination for wine aficionados because we have "Working Girl Winery" nearby. Sure, some people will stop by, and have their pictures taken, but is this to be considered an serious economic driving element for the region?
Stokes' does a nice community service by giving attention to every housewife and child that wants to put their efforts up on a wall, but that cannot be considered Fine Art, art that will make Port Angeles a destination.
Bob Stokes drives a lot of hot air around. Otherwise, the city does everything it can to drive arts-minded people out. I mean, we can't even keep a movie theater downtown open. What does Port Angeles know about art? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
Hey, we like art but I don't think we have any pole dancers here.
The poll, in typical teabagger fashion, lumps together those who answered "NO" with people who think art is important to a city but don't like what is done here, or what is done here is counterproductive for artists (and dead artists' art, etc.) or think not much at all is done for artists...all kinds of art supporters could conceivably answer "no"....
...with people who absolutely hate art unless it involves the image of a unicorn, or Elvis. The same people who hate forests, clean water, gay people, the National Park System, our National Park, Native Americans, women who wear pants, and Obama.
So, the uninformed knuckdragging teabaggin' obstructionists can point to the poll, and say LOOKIE LOOKIE, it's not a driving force. And that would CERTAINLY be impossible to nurture, to make a driving force a bigger force. Costly too! Why spend money, nurturing something people not only don't want... So, why bother? IN FACT...DUR...lets make it MORE unattractive for artists! Let's spend our tax dollars wisely!
BBC - They used to have a great place, but any time someone opened the front door, the lady would stick to the pole!
I was one of those voting "only moderately" for two reasons.
1. I do think the arts are important, but so are a lot of things. Art is just one part of that elusive "quality of life" we keep missing out on. I'm not going to be one of those who falls into the trap of thinking "Gosh, if only we have X our life here will be complete!" That never happens.
2. "Art" is a bit subjective. Honestly, I'm not impressed with most of the art we have around town. That's just me of course. What little we have is just in the Fine Arts center and downtown. Why isn't there art across town? Why doesn't it blend in more with our natural environment? Why don't we have more Native art, given that we're surrounded by local tribes?
Also I'm not in any of the artist groups, but a lot of what I've seen is a bunch of people fighting to be top fish in a small pond. Seems like there's a lot more politics than actually creating art. And some of the top fish somehow think they're on level with artists from larger areas. I'm not a big fan of Bob Stokes' art, but I'll give him credit for actually doing something around the town. But I'm not in the arts here so I may have a skewed view of things.
I think she meant "knuckle draggers" rather than "knuckdragger".
Take' one to know one.
zzzzzzzzzzz
Knuckdragging?
Did you mean nut dragging?
Another, fortified beer drinking moron (tries) to say something profound!
Silly.
"Let's spend our tax dollars wisely!"
Yeah, like on Cutler's Turd Tank, or that beach downtown.
arts is not a major focus here. Welfare, corruption and vice are.
The only person qualified to determine "what is art?" Is Max Mania, a true Artist!
Max has spent many years and countless hours living, breathing and experiencing Art. He knows a Rodin from a Rhodan, a Renoir from a Rent-A-Car and while he once made Dada in his pants as a wee child, he knows that Pablo Picasso was never an asshole.
Unfortunately, Max Mania was chased out of town by a vicious gang of anti-Art buffoons and poltroons and jackanapes, so there is no one left in this town who is properly qualified to talk about Art.
Looks like Anon 12:51 PM is still living at home with his mommy.
It stopped being funny a long time ago.
Wow, still being obsessed with Max Mania over a year after he (wisely) moved away. That's the classic Port Angeles rearview mirror focus for you. He was the best City Council member Port Angeles had for years, and yes, he got driven out by a bunch of lying, greedy morons. Driving good people out, that's really something to celebrate, isn't it - at least in Port Angeles. And here's Tom, facilitating it all with his blog. So who even needs the PDN? There's another source for backwards views and a celebration of everything fucked up about Port Angeles right here.
What a wonderful little cesspool PA is, and, really, is likely to always be. The only questions are who will be the next good person to leave, and what will the next disaster to befall Port Angeles be?
"what will the next disaster to befall Port Angeles be?"
I think that would be Port Angeles.
Personally, I commend Tom for maintaining this blog.
Tom isn't responsible for the idiocy that people here post. He only provides the forum for people to show the world who they are and how they see things, in their own uncensored words.
It would be interesting to hear Tom's views on things, though.
I know that online comment forums of any kind bring out the nastiness in some people. Still haven't figured out why some can't make a point without feeling they have to insult others.
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