It's an exciting, new... er... thingy
A reader reports that Tanner Springs Park -- the avant garde park in the Pearl District -- now has some avant garde art to go with it:
But like so many expensive, "cool" additions to the Portland streetscape, this thing isn't too practical. Already one of its overhead glass panels has badly cracked and had to be repaired. And according to the reader, the city was none too swift in responding to reports of the problem.
This installation reminds me of the laughable bus "shelters" that have recently replaced the old ones on the transit mall. One wonders how much broken glass we've got in our future.
| Posted at 9:35 AM | Permalink |
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Comments (19)
I have warmed to the glass bus shelters, but they do seem to be a potential tagging magnet.
They are clear now, but one wonders how long it will be before TriMet has to "smoke" them to hide all the graffiti.
Posted by none | October 13, 2009 11:47 AM
Oh, yeah. There has been a good amount of questionable "art" popping up downtown lately.
Posted by none | October 13, 2009 11:48 AM
Why not green that art up with some solar panels?
Posted by genop | October 13, 2009 11:54 AM
September 29, 2009
SW 5th & Morrison
Stop ID 7625
Not broken glass. But no schedule either.
http://www.pdxnag.com/20091013_temp/P1060131.JPG
Posted by pdxnag | October 13, 2009 11:54 AM
Out here in Gateway we have a "living art" space that includes a double row of red fiberglass poles that are supposed to bend in the wind and mimic trees. My kids and I keep wondering why they didn't plant REAL trees, but now that Sam's not going to sweep up leaves any more, it makes more sense. Slightly more.
Posted by Michelle in Orygun | October 13, 2009 11:55 AM
I can't help noting the complete absence of the color green in your park picture. I'm old-fashioned enough to think you can't have a park without some grass.
Posted by Roger | October 13, 2009 12:18 PM
I'm old-fashioned enough to think you can't have a park without some grass.
Then you won't be real happy with Portland's newest "park".
But hey, it's got a glass canopy and it will only cost Portland a half million a year to operate.
Posted by none | October 13, 2009 12:39 PM
This is what happens when you ask an architect to design a bus shelter. All design and no shelter...
Posted by Dean | October 13, 2009 1:00 PM
Does the thingy spin? It would make a good frame for a whirling amusement park ride.
Posted by Gil Johnson | October 13, 2009 2:05 PM
The amount of CRAP that they come up with to spend our money on is amazing. If it's supposed to be a park ... why the heck don't they plant ... plants - I know, it's just too much of an old fashioned idea.
Posted by native oregonian | October 13, 2009 2:32 PM
Speaking of another glass canopy, I was taking a walk around the Eastbank Esplanade for some exercise the other night.
When I got back to the west side of the river, I passed the new Saturday Market space with it's glass canopy.
It was well after dark and the fountains they built into the structure were running full blast. I took it as an effort to discourage homeless people from sleeping under the canopy. There were half a dozen people sleeping nearby.
Posted by none | October 13, 2009 3:03 PM
Well, the idea is that elves and fairies are supposed to repair all of that downtown art, the way they're repaired in other cities. Besides, there's always the possibility that the land upon which that monstrosity rests might be bought and used by someone who isn't named "Paulson", and this is a great way to make sure that it never gets used for anything productive ever again.
Me, cynical? Naah. I live in Dallas, where the only time we get parks anywhere near downtown is to make sure that nobody starts a project that might otherwise destabilize the local business elite. Just look at the Pioneer Plaza Cattle Drive sculpture. This work went in at city expense to prevent a potential buyer of the property from putting in a hotel next to the Dallas Convention Center and thereby aggravating the then-owners of the Anatole Hotel. Not only is the city stuck paying for maintenance on the park, but now the same geniuses behind this idea are expecting the city to finance a brand new convention center hotel, under the usual business socialism idea of "profits to the greedheads who came up with it, costs to the public".
Posted by Texas Triffid Ranch | October 13, 2009 3:15 PM
The thing looks lonely.
How about letting the food cart folks set up underneath it? The Pearlies need some diversity...
Posted by RANZ | October 13, 2009 4:57 PM
what ever happened to those beautiful art deco bus shelters- why didnt they re-use them?
Posted by kathe w. | October 13, 2009 5:49 PM
Sponsored by Windex. It's definitely job security for city window cleaners!
How are the high winds treating it?
As far as the absence of green or groomed areas . . . Tanner Creek is an "au natural" park and the only one that doesn't allow pets. It's pretty stark, compared to a traditional city park.
Posted by NW Portlander | October 13, 2009 6:17 PM
What's so "au natural" about concrete?
Does it double as a see-through satelite dish?
Posted by Michelle in Orygun | October 14, 2009 7:43 AM
the new leaf collection location!
Posted by phil | October 14, 2009 8:36 AM
I may be late to the party but, it seems that here in Portland, we put the lawns on the roof, and make the parks out of skylights. Makes sense to me.
Posted by recovering conservative | October 14, 2009 4:58 PM
Recovering, good remark. And add that the costs to do both is three times the cost that it should be.
Posted by Lee | October 14, 2009 10:35 PM