A Berkeley-commissioned sculpture on the west side of the pedestrian and bike bridge over Interstate 80 contains this scatological image of dogs on its base.
Posted on 02/11/2009 8:07:45 AM PST by SmithL
Dogs do what dogs do - and in Berkeley, "dog do" is now part of some very public art.
Decorative medallions depicting dogs sniffing, dumping and humping each other have recently been added to the base of one of a pair of sculptures commissioned by the city on either end of the pedestrian and bike bridge over Interstate 80.
At first glance, one might think the scatological series of bronzes - at the base of the west side sculpture celebrating the waterfront park - is a joke.
It's not.
"I am showing dogs doing what dogs do at the dog park," said Scott Donahue, the Emeryville artist who was paid $196,000 from Berkeley's public arts program to create the sculptures.
Donahue says the west end sculpture simply depicts the natural and recreational activities at Berkeley's waterfront, which includes a dog park.
"I am a realist," Donahue said. "You can celebrate a place in both a serious and lighthearted way."
So while the sculpture primarily focuses on kite flying, bird watching and other human activities, dogs get their day as well.
Berkeley civic arts coordinator Mary Ann Merker says the sculptures were vetted through a public process, although she admits that some of the smaller details may have been overlooked.
"You have to keep in perspective that there are ... 11 figures on a sculpture that's 28 feet high, so it's really strange to pick out 5 inches," Merker said. "I don't believe it was meant to be that offensive, and you have to really look to find it."
And for anyone who still might be offended?
"Everyone is entitled to their opinion," she says.
Incidentally, you can find one of the dog images on our blog here- but even our editors blushed at the idea of publishing the other two.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
A Berkeley-commissioned sculpture on the west side of the pedestrian and bike bridge over Interstate 80 contains this scatological image of dogs on its base.
The inmates are running the asylum in SF.
I NEVER put a dime in their economy, NEVER
woof...not guilty
Charming. I visited San Fran around ten years ago...I will never return. What a mess. Overpriced housing and large groups of homeless “encampments.” I rented a bike to ride through Golden Gate Park and had to contend with encampments of leering homeless men.
Can we kick Berserkly out of the US
Leftist “artists” with no talent have to do something, as working for a living is certainly not an alternative.
It’s good to know that Scott Donaghue got $196,000 in public funds for this. Money well spent!
Also, no doubt, if the Porculus Magnus bill goes through, there will be millions more available to spend on similar public scuptures. Oh, joy. That’ll really fix our economy.
I never go to Berkeley either but that doesn’t mean our tax dollars don’t go there. Think National Endowment for the Arts, or a state equivalent. In my experience, cities don’t pay for these out of their general funds. They simply tap into some art fund somewhere.
Your tax dimes paid for that. Just think how much you'll be contributing through the stimulus bill for this rot.
Honestly, I think it would be better if CA just fell off into the ocean. Start fresh.
$196,000.00????????
Disgusting.
You do realize that would mean no more Free Republic, don't you?
Yeah, it's not easy being red in any blue state.
Servers are easily moved.
Ping.
Still waiting for someone to make dog dodo into art.
I hear the government is getting ready to sponsor more art. Make a portrait of Mr. Obama out of dog do. Ask for $100,000 from DC.
The inmates are running the asylum in SF.”
San Francisco IS an asylum. It’s just that the inmates have complete freedom of travel.....
Isn’t that $196,000 public money?
Who authorizes this kind of spending??
Cannot any of them be outright FIRED???????
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