January 30, 2009 9:42 AM
Hooray for the big blue Mustang at DIA
Time to lighten up about the big blue Mustang that greets you with bright red eyes near the entrance to DIA.
I admit my first encounter with the Mustang - a pre-dawn trip to DIA - was a bit of a shocker. Think I referred to it as "one freaky-looking horse." But the recent uproar about the Mustang, owing to the media's discovery of a Web site dedicated to stampeding the Mustang out of town, is silly.
Art is supposed to be provocative. Art is supposed to make you think - or at least react. I'm guessing few visitors to DIA pass the big blue Mustang without having a reaction. It's not scary to kids. It's cool to kids. A big blue horse rising out of the night sky with blazing red eyes? Kids love that stuff. It's adults who are freaking out.
Demonic? Gimme a break. Art isn't tapioca, and if it isn't making you talk about it, criticize it, adore it, it's not doing its job. The big blue Mustang is startling, bold and edgy. Welcome to Denver, travellers. If you can't handle it, make a U-turn and get your weak backside out of town.
January 30, 2009
10:29 AM
Shaggy writes:
We are not suppose to scare visitors coming to Colorado by having Old Meth give them the evil eye as they pass by.
January 30, 2009
10:45 AM
Mark Wolf writes:
Shaggy, let's agree to disagree on the merits of the statue but you get major LOL points for naming it Old Meth.
January 30, 2009
11:01 AM
Shaggy writes:
Mark W,
Actually the "LOL points" should be credited to Dan Caplis, I just happen to agree with him.
I also agree with Craig Silverman with naming this one "the Beanis".
Please don't tell me you like this one as well.
I'm starting to worry about you.
http://neighbors.denverpost.com/album_pic.php?pic_id=4970
January 30, 2009
11:15 AM
prima facie writes:
Art is supposed to make you think? I thought it was supposed to be pleasant to look at.
Oh, I'll admit to reacting -- in laughter -- every time I see that ridiculous horse, the stupid blue bear ready to be frisked, and silly painted cows. And what's with the PVC-pipe dancers near the convention center?
The Sistine Chapel and The Thinker are art. Plastic animals and figures ... not so much.
January 30, 2009
11:32 AM
gr8fuldude writes:
I am usually on the bus when I go to DIA, so to be perfectly honest, I have never noticed this. I will make it a point to look next month.
On the subject of bad art, I HATE the new sculpture thing in the DTC almost as much as the god-awful yellow tower thing near I25 and Broadway.
January 30, 2009
12:04 PM
freethinker writes:
"Art isn't tapioca, and if it isn't making you talk about it, criticize it, adore it, it's not doing its job."
This is precisely the problem. Why should the government be involved in art? The fact that somebody criticizes a sculpture doesn't make it good. I generally try to ignore the city's attempts at art, except when I make fun of them.
The library and the art museum are great examples of buildings that would be improved by turning a bunch of teenagers with magic markers loose on them. The library looks like it was built out of the spare parts bin at an old hardware store.
The art museum's exterior design is simply stupid. In 10 years the art museum will be "passe" and people will want to tear it down. It would serve them right if someone declares it a historical monument and the rest of us get to make fun of it for decades.
The bronco should be "broken".
In a more serious vein, by your definition art should be distracting. Therefore it should not be placed along roadways.
January 30, 2009
12:14 PM
Truth writes:
Speaking of DIA weirdness:
http://www.anomalies-unlimited.com/Denver_Airport.html
January 30, 2009
12:26 PM
Rembrant writes:
Since folks who support the aesthetically jarring piece of art want us to consider the artist and his thoughts, perhaps it would be worthwhile to consider the fact that this artist was chronically late in his commitment to deliver this commissioned piece and his lack of diligence created additional costs and inconveniences to the taxpayers. I would argue that such lack of professional care and diligence would be reflected in the finished product and thus be open to scrutiny.
I think fair-minded people can opine that this sloppy example of art be moved from it's current position and erected at a more appropriate site.
January 30, 2009
1:44 PM
history buff writes:
Part of modern art is its placement. I like the steed and I like where it is placed. It is a symbol of the wild west and being out in the open on the plains with the mountains and the bright lights of Denver shining like diamonds, like ten thousand jewels in the sky as its backdrop is quite magnificent. Also think the eyes and colors make it visible at night, and make it more than a statue.
I remember when the the Picasso was placed in the Civic Center in Chicago. There were the same type of comments about it. Some people thought it was a piece of trash. Many said they didn't know what it was. I think it is a woman -- with two eyes, none the less. That is one eye less than the women in some of Picasso's paintings. At any rate, the Picasso is an incredible work of art and it is in the public square.
I'm not saying the Mustang is on par with Picasso, but it wouldn't surprise me if a large part of the public would rather have one of those cats with the big eyes, or the kids with the big eyes, instead of something that is more striking.
January 30, 2009
1:56 PM
Wingg Nutt writes:
Denver International is a very liberal airport. As such, I never use it. I feel much safer flying out of Colorado Springs or Aspen. Makes a lot more sense to fly where the airport reflects more traditional conservative values.
January 30, 2009
3:09 PM
R writes:
I freaking love that horse. Saw a story on the local news last night about some lady who wanted it removed and had started a facebook page dedicated to that cause. Some people have way too much time on thier hands.
January 30, 2009
3:43 PM
Anonymous writes:
Earth to R,
"Saw a story on the local news last night about some lady who wanted it removed and had started a facebook page dedicated to that cause."
ummmm, that is what this thread is about..duhh.
January 30, 2009
4:02 PM
tdaniels writes:
As I've mentioned before, I see no validity to the "Art is supposed to be provocative" argument. Larry Flynt could easily use the same material for his "uplifting works of art" (credit to Scott for that term).
I just see the thing as a $650k embarrassment that I want to dynamite every time I go by it. "Tacky" doesn't even begin to describe it.
January 30, 2009
4:59 PM
Anonymous writes:
Hey T - be careful about badmouthing the art. The artist was a minority and you might be a racist for saying stuff like that.
January 30, 2009
7:32 PM
Republican Guy writes:
The word "demonic" is quite accurate when it comes to describing the blue horse at DIA. It fell on its creator and killed him before it was completed. It's a garish shade of blue with glowing red eyes. And it is standing on its hind legs in a menacing pose.
When most people think of Colorado, they think of serene mountain views and the Denver Broncos. The blue horse is an interesting work of art - but it isn't a very attractive representation of our state.
January 30, 2009
7:38 PM
Republican Guy writes:
The word "demonic" is quite accurate when it comes to describing the blue horse at DIA. It fell on its creator and killed him before it was completed. It's a garish shade of blue with glowing red eyes. And it is standing on its hind legs in a menacing pose.
When most people think of Colorado, they think of serene mountain views and the Denver Broncos. The blue horse is an interesting work of art - but it isn't a very attractive representation of our state.
January 30, 2009
10:56 PM
peterpi writes:
I love the Big Blue Bear, even if it does look like, now that I think about it, as if it's going to be frisked, as Prima Facie said.
The Mustang is hideous. The eyes make it look demonic, and it has this weird techno feel.
January 31, 2009
12:40 AM
Raf writes:
Q.: Why does the blue horse have red eyes?
A.: 'Cause it's mile high, Baby!!
January 31, 2009
7:51 AM
The horse is cursed writes:
I think this horse is bad luck, demon possesed.
ever since, the broncos started losing.
Mike Shanahan started turning into George Bush
been losin by 30 pts since.
February 1, 2009
9:24 AM
DIA worker writes:
I work at DIA and that fankinstang looks down at us at the employee parking every day. Its just another DIA disaster. Those inept government managers that run the place can not clean the taxiways of snow making the airport unsafe yet blow millions on ugly artwork, failed solar panels, piles of fake mountain dirt on Penya, and new carpet that tears rotator cuffs on people trying to drag their bags. Total fools that all should be fired!
February 2, 2009
2:20 PM
Hogar De Vuelta (العودة) Old Meth should be sent to the glue factory writes:
This would have been a far more appropriate horse to welcome visitors. It should be more prominently displayed for visitors leaving the airport to see.
http://getawallpaper.com/p-horses-10245-1/
February 11, 2009
12:46 PM
Mike writes:
If people don't like it they shouldn't bother to look at it! There are better things to focus our energies on. Unfortunately too many people have already wasted time and energy on a sculpture, instead of doing something productive.
February 11, 2009
12:47 PM
Mike writes:
If people don't like it they shouldn't bother to look at it! There are better things to focus our energies on. Unfortunately too many people have already wasted time and energy on a sculpture, instead of doing something productive.
February 20, 2009
2:08 PM
Troutbum writes:
I like Wolfs final comment of
"Welcome to Denver, travellers. If you can't handle it, make a U-turn and get your weak backside out of town."
Too bad this posture wasn't taken years ago to keep the hords of transplants out of the state.
Keep Old Meth, we need more things like it to keep the morons yammering.
March 4, 2009
9:11 PM
nizate writes:
who cares a crap. its not in your front yard or your neighbors yard. how often will you see it. why are you wasting your time even worrying about it people.