“The Unexpected” is to be expected. July 16, 2017

As an observer with somewhat of a knowledge & study in the arts, the downtown project called “The Unexpected” (murals on historic buildings) raises lots of questions. Who is paying these various “artists” for their travel & work expenses? Who, if anyone, critiques the planned art project and are there any criteria or standards applied?

What is called “art” is a very subjective subject. There are various viewpoints such as the “Emperors’ New Clothes” faction, in which whatever the “experts” say is acceptable or appropriate art must be so. There is a malevolent faction which does all it can to project ugliness, misery, distortion of reality, and often seeks to dare the viewer not to agree or feel awe for their work. Then, there is a faction which seeks to portray life in a rational, benevolent way, even to inspire. All artists are portraying their own sense of life, how they feel about humankind and the world in which we live.

With those thoughts in mind, observe what the Fort Smith canvas is portraying. Some projects show a complete lack of reality or benevolence, some make no sense at all, some are cartoonish, some are just plain ugly, and a few give a sense of dignity & intelligibility.
In my opinion if any vetting is done it is poorly accomplished. This town has a very unique history which could have been portrayed in the tracing of that history in a dignified, educational, inspiring way. From Wild West bandits, to the Judge & Marshal’s, to the genteel presence of Southern etiquette & accomplishment. From wagons, horses, blacksmiths, farmers, saloons, to ladies & gentlemen and the building of fine structures, such as the marble train station and elegant hotels & theaters, to the crowded Avenue lined with fine stores of all venues & throngs of people making their way up & down, including the WWII troops. So many opportunities to educate, stimulate & inspire, lost forever.

What we see now with clear eyes & rational minds is a growing array of graffiti…no doubt expensive. Don’t know about others but I don’t relish the idea of this becoming known as “Graffiti City”, no matter how “well-meaning” or “expert” the instigators & enablers might present themselves to be.

The “Unexpected” is not so unexpected in this time of political correctness and relinquishment of standards and beauty.

Those of us old enough to remember times of decorum, etiquette, esthetics, honor, & rugged individualism recognize what destructive endeavors are unfolding. The “Youngers” are mostly mired in PC indoctrination & those who have resisted are to be admired…and pitied for the agonies without the ecstasy’s to be endured.

Pity the young.

~Barbara McCutchen