Elsewhere on the Net: Indiana Arts Council Survey Focuses on Services to Artists; Dog to be Leashed in New Statue for NYC Park

Source: Arts Wire CURRENT at Arts Wire

INDIANA ARTS COUNCIL SURVEY FOCUSES ON SERVICES TO ARTISTS

A report of an Indiana Arts Commission (IAC) survey which was distributed to more than 7,800 artists in the state concludes that "Individual artists are important, but often undervalued, members of Indiana communities, They can be a tremendous asset to towns, cities and regions in areas such as cultural, economic and educational development, and greater deserve attention and support from the Indiana Arts Commission."

The report, compiled by Wolf, Keens, & Co., a consulting firm assisting the IAC, presents the major findings of a nine-month study of the needs of Indiana artists. The report sums up artists' needs as income, opportunity and visibility. The findings of the study will be used to develop new programs and services to promote the professional development of artists who live and work in Indiana.

The two basic questions asked in the survey were: "What are the needs of Indiana artists?" and, how could the IAC, its Regional Partner Organizations and other partners work together to meet these needs?

The Committee outlined a series of principles to help the IAC shape program development efforts. Future programs should, according to the committee, position the IAC as a statewide leader in promoting Indiana artists as community cultural assets; offer tangible benefits to artists; address the needs of artists in different disciplines; and connect resources and programs to one another.

The Committee also suggested four categories of programs to help artists, including: Promotion and Recognition; Training and Business Development; Opportunities to Create and Present Art; and Creating and Reaching Markets.

For more information, or to receive a copy of the report, address your request to: Artists Survey Report, Indiana Arts Commission, Rm W072, 402 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46204. web site: http://www.ai.org/iac

DOG TO BE LEASHED IN NEW STATUE FOR TOMPKINS SQUARE PARK

NEW YORK CITY, NY-- According to THE WASHINGTON POST, artist Jack Dowd has assured city officials that the dog in his statue MAN & HIS DOG will eventually have a leash. The life size bronze statue, which depicts a man sitting on a bench beside his dog, will be unveiled Tompkins Square Park next month.

The Post reports that because Parks Department officials have begun aggressively enforcing the leash law, they were concerned when they saw the dog without a leash in photographs of the statue.

However, according to the Post, Dowd says had always intended the dog to have a leash. but he left it off when the statue was on display in galleries in Florida and Hawaii because he feared vandals would damage it. He has made adjustments in the bronze leash to make it more damage proof.

"There's a famous statue of a German Shepherd in Central Park. I don't remember who the dog is, all I know is its famous, its really beautiful, and it DOES NOT have a leash anywhere--the dog stands guard on top of a rock," dog painter Irene Dogmatic, whose portraits have included Glenn Close's Wheaton terrier, Petey and Donna Tartt's pug, Pongo, told Arts Wire.

"I am thinking that perhaps Giuliani will make dog statuary in New York City sort of like naked male statuary in the past, but rather than a fig leaf strategically placed below the waist, the dogs will feature a leash strategically placed around the neck," she added.

Sources/resources:

"Statue Meets Statute: Bronze Dog Gets a Leash"
WASHINGTON POST -- http://www.washingtonpost.com
March 16, 199

Irene Dogmatic can be reached at Email: dogmatic@sirius.com

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