Public Art in a Transit System
What do we mean when we speak of public art in transit?
Basically, in the case of Metro, it is an artwork that is accessible to the public and designed for a specific site in or near a light rail station, at a bus stop or on a bus. There are other ways, too, that artists work with transit systems, for instance, as members of design teams.
Artists are often part of “design teams” that include engineers and architects. How does this work?
Working with other design professionals such as engineers, architects and landscape architects to meet practical and aesthetic goals, artists use their design skills in new ways to humanize stations, depots, buses, train cars, viaducts, bridge piers, etc. Artists bring a different and valuable perspective to the design process.
Is there a particular form art in transit must take or special materials that are used?
Diverse styles and concepts are found from computer-supported installations that combine light effects calibrated with traffic patterns to artist-designed bridge piers, sound installations generated by wind and others that incorporate either realistic or abstract imagery. The materials used are just as varied, ranging from found objects, Plexiglas, copper, aluminum and sandblasted glass to mirrored tiles, LED lights and wood.
How does AIT select artwork for Metro’s system of buses and trains?
Actually, it is the artist who is first selected based on his or her qualifications. A panel made up of artists and arts professionals from the St. Louis community and a representative from AIT’s advisory board determines the selection. Once chosen, the artist works with AIT to select a site and to design an appropriate artwork.
Does Arts in Transit sponsor any other kinds of art programs?
Yes, Arts in Transit sponsors Poetry in Motion and the Art Bus Fleet Program and has sponsored programs such as the City Faces Project and the Delmar Banner Project, both involving the interaction of art students and the local community.
How is the artwork funded and who takes care of it?
It is funded and taken care of by AIT through one percent of Metro’s building costs and grants from other organizations as well as from public and private partnerships.
When did public art in transit begin in the United States and what is its role in 2008?
America’s first boat builders employed sculptors to carve impressive figureheads that represented the essence or spirit of a vessel and were mounted on the bows of sailing ships. At the same time, untrained artists called limners decorated stagecoaches heading west. In the 1930s the federal government under the Works Progress Administration commissioned public art murals for train stations throughout the country. These forms of embellishment communicated to the public a sense of pride and identity. This in turn inspired feelings of confidence and trust in the potential customer. So it follows that in the 21st century as cities realize the efficiency and environmental benefits of public transit, artists are increasingly invited to help achieve the important goal of making transit systems user-friendly to customers and the communities they serve.
What are the qualities of a successful piece of art in transit?
This is an important question and one worth thinking about. Simply put, the best art in transit has qualities that engage the viewer in ways that may cause surprise, raise questions, express feelings, stimulate the intellect, elevate the soul, build community pride and help to describe or identify a place.