Public Art Preservation: Issue 3

Public Art is a decorative and artistic element, usually existing in many forms and can be found in various locations that can be viewed in public areas. Public art not only serves to please the eye, but also helps define the history of a society through sculptures, murals, monuments, and various other forms of display, and exists for everyone to experience. Each art piece contributes to the beauty of Venice and to its huge art collection, and should be considered very important. With over 4,230 pieces of public art in land area of 7.6 square kilometers, the prominence of the public art plays a huge role in the creation of the historic atmosphere of Venice. However due to no form of maintenance, public art has deteriorated and could lose its historical and cultural value. Also, Venetian public art runs the risk of being vandalized, stolen, or removed for renovations to the buildings, and not replaced. With the natural atmosphere of Venice including moist, salty air and other weather conditions such as flooding vastly contributes to the deterioration. Over the past years, WPI students completed the catalog of lunette and portal and the Venice Project Center has a completed catalog of nearly all types of public art with similar entry styles, including wellheads, flagstaffs, keystones, and other various types of external sculpture. The problem of preservation of public art needs to be addressed to the people, so that the historical integrity of Venice can be maintained.

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