What do you think of this painting? Should it be hung in the Scott Co.

[Debi]

Courthouse?




Here's the whole story:
http://www.qctimes.net/articles/2006/02/08/news/local/doc43e98def7de2f138792963.txt

[IA_Seth]

1. Well...

I guess I don't like the painting myself, but I don't see anything extremely offensive that would prohibit it from being displayed.

I guess I would follow standard operating procedure...if they allow this they should allow a "gift" depicting peace activists to be hung along side it.

It seems kind of cheesey to me, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

[Debi]

2. I do get the concern about the "Men go off to war ...

and women stay home to mind the children" message that the painting portrays.

Hard to change a mindset I guess.

[IA_Seth]

3. Yeah, agreed.

Not really the message I would want to send about our armed forces (or a recruiter's message I'm sure)...but it is probably how a good majority of the old folks in Iowa see things.

[Debi]

5. Oh, hey, since I have you one-on-one in this thread

We had a resolution re: Caucuses being held on MLK day at our Platform Committee meeting and it got shot down by the two black people there. The message they gave was that participation in the political process on that day is WAY more important than attending a banquet or concert in his honor. Whaddayaknow :shrug:

[IA_Seth]

6. Lol, oh i give up

I guess whatever floats their boat... Regardless of who the day is celebrating I think it's silly for us to schedule our caucus on a day that many people would be busy.

My personal feelings are that political action is probably the BEST way to honor MLK, but that was beside my point about the federal holidays. We don't vote on Thanksgiving for a reason.

[Debi]

12. Tryptophan? everyone would be asleep???c'mon, it's Friday

:7

[Bluzmann57]

4. As a Scott County resident

Why not? It isn't really all that bad. Most County business is not conducted in the courthouse proper anyway, so not that many people will see it. License plates, home deeds, etc are next door at the Bicentennial building. I never really paid attention to the artwork over there. What really is of some concern about the Board of Supervisors is that every member is a Davenport resident. There needs to be some representation outside the metro area.

[rurallib]

7. The article doesn't say when the picture was painted.

That kind of got my curiosity. If it was a WWII or even a Vietnam era painting I would think it would be of interest because of the implied values of the times. As it is it seems to convey a somewhat confusing message. Hang in the courthouse? Why not. It has nice colors. Probably would not have even drawn a second glance until it became 'controversial'.

[progressoid]

8. article says:

It is intended to honor the efforts of Iowans during the war in the Middle East and to raise money for a monument to be placed at the state veterans cemetery being built west of Des Moines.

[rurallib]

10. I reread that 4 times and that didn't stick in my head - thanks

Musta gotta hold of some of Vilsack's stupid pills.

[progressoid]

9. Ummmm.....NO

Unless we are still living in 1948.

There are better ways to honor our soldiers than with stereotypical, idealized and sophmoric art.
More likely, the mother should be at her second part-time job. The kids wouldn't be near that river because of the runoff from the corporate hog farm upstream (they should be at home playing video games).

I bet they wouldn't think twice about NOT hanging a painting celebrating Roe v Wade.

Besides, there's this too...County Recorder Rita Vargas said she understood the policy at the Scott County Administrative Center was to prohibit the hanging of framed artwork in public spaces. The recorder’s office formerly was located in the courthouse and had framed maps on the walls for the benefit of visitors. Those same maps were not placed in the administrative center after it was renovated, she pointed out.

The thought behind that decision was to prevent the building from becoming cluttered with artwork and posters, responded Dave Donovan, the county director of facility and support services.

[Debi]

11. My husband and I were at the Capitol yesterday and the painting

was on display in the rotunda. Just an FYI