Isaiah Zagar, the Philadelphia artist who designed Uptown's mosaic murals, installed last summer on two buildings in the 1300 block of Washington Avenue, is featured in an HBO documentary airing for the first time this week, on Wednesday night.
Zagar, 70, was brought here by then-Mayor Gary Becker. The two 75-ft. long mosaics he created for $10,000 are -- so far, anyway -- the only successful parts of the Artists Relocation Program (unless anyone counts the more controversial Nic Noblique sculpture at 10th Street and Washington Avenue, which cost four times as much.) The mosaics, created with the labor of many young volunteers brought together by RCEDC, the city and the Uptown Business Improvement District, cost far less than others Zagar has been commissioned to do around the country.
The documentary, made by his son, Jeremiah, over a seven-year period, is titled, "In a Dream." It was screened here last June for the volunteers working on Uptown's murals, but aside from showings at independent film festivals hasn't been offered to a wide audience until now.
An article in today's New York Times describes Zagar's murals as "a hodgepodge of Old Testament prophecy and Whitmanesque self-beautification."
Isaiah Zagar is a very talented and respected artist. Whatever you may think about the ex-mayor's wish to make Uptown an artist haven, Racine should be honored to have Isaiah's work here. Art is an important part of a community. I am looking forward to watching the documentary about him.
ReplyDeleteI think there was a lot of little kids around for what or maybe who
ReplyDeleteI love public art. It is an honor to have a mural done with Isaiah.
ReplyDeleteThe mosaic mural is simply awesome, both at day and night. The Nic Noblique piece however, is a poor attempt at a landmark sculpture, is way too small for the spot it has, and serves as a symbol of our city getting ripped off, both at day and night.
ReplyDeleteAmen! That Noblique piece belongs in a junkyard. Maybe if somebody carts it away and peddles it to a scrap metal company, we'll finally see the last of "The Last of Ike."
ReplyDeleteSeriously, a corrupt corporate crime family and its Ivy League lackeys saddled Racine with Nic Noblique's nonsense. If the arty-tarty Wax-witches had any decency, they'd reimburse the city for the cost of the sculpture.
ReplyDeleteAnd, while we're at it, someone should rescind those property tax exemptions and make the John-Swines pay their fair share. TAX THE WAX!
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you people in racine are just so dumb it hurts are is a subjective thing u will never get
ReplyDeleteartists there if you act like this no one wants to be there when everyone knows they will get beat up for there expression
you people have no idea the cost that cities incur to make their communities desirable and thriving. ART makes communities desirable and contributes to a thriving infrastructure of business and commerce. Other cities have transformed broken neighborhoods into wonderful communities, lowering crime, increasing business, rebuilding dilapidated homes and buildings all through arts initiatives. Do you know how much public sculpture has cost those communities? Millions, not thousands. And it's worth it because now people want to open business there, people want to live there. They would be thrilled to only pay $40 grand for a piece of work by an established and sought after artist like Noblique. Unfortunately Becker had a wonderful plan but was otherwise not a wonderful person. I hope a future Mayor of Racine will continue this vital effort to rebuild your community through arts and culture. It simple works.
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