Art's A Ball
The Frederick Arts Council is putting together another public art project called the Art’s A Ball Public Art Project.
Art’s A Ball Public Art Project
Date – 7/1/08 – 8/15/08
Location – Various Locations
Contact – 301-662-4190
The Frederick Arts Council in collaboration with the Frederick Keys will sponsor a public art project entitled “Art’s a Ball!”, which will feature 1,000 artist-decorated baseballs on display throughout the community. The baseballs will be put on public display at various locations in Frederick County from July 1 to August 15, 2008. “Art’s a Ball!” will culminate at the 2nd annual Art in the Park night, scheduled for August 29th at Harry Grove Stadium. The baseballs will then be auctioned off or sold outright, with proceeds going to benefit the arts in Frederick County. Professional, amateur, student, and celebrity artists are being engaged in this community-wide initiative.
It’s nice to see that they are continuing these public art projects after the Keys to Frederick project last year got such mixed reviews and had some thievery issues. I’m sure I remember reading recently that one of the Keys is still missing. The only question I have is, how big are these baseballs? Are they actual baseballs? Because if people can steal those giant Keys, than a baseball will be no problem.
Yup, they are regulation baseballs. My elementary school boys each decorated one recently at FCC after a camp session there. I’m curious where they will all end up “on display.” Probably 30 kids painted balls for the project at the college.
Hmm…Surely the decorated baseballs (I assume they’re actual baseballs) will be placed in protective display cases of some kind. With the project supposed to have started July 1, the balls apparently are already out there and on display, though I haven’t noticed anything. (But haven’t gotten out much in the the last few days.)
I personally liked the “Keys to Frederick” idea and was disgusted by the vandalism. (Though I think that, overall, the effort was still considered a success.) I wish the Frederick Arts Council all the best with this latest endeavor and hope it gets the attention and support of the public.
I think they have some of the balls in the windows of the Cultural Arts Center.
I am sick of these gimicky “art” projects in Frederick. We have a lot of talented artists in town, but we’re painting balls? Ug.
I have to disagree Sarah. It sounds like lots of these baseballs were painted by children. If seeing their artwork downtown inspires even one of those kids to pursue art, then it’s worth it.
I liked the Keys too and I think art is different to everyone.
Only a true artist would appreciate that.
It’s a fun thing for kids, sure. Personally, I prefer seeing the exhibitions at the Delaplaine or the Cultural Arts Center of paintings, sculptures and ceramics that the area children worked really hard to create. We have a lot of talented people in this community!
The Keys are gimics. Every city in America has them. They aren’t creative and don’t showcase the true talents that people have here.
Thanks, Mindy, for implying that I am not a real artist. I guess I’m a fake one, then.
Sarah,
Do you think EVERYONE in the world finds what you do exceptional?
I’m sure the people who felt they worked really hard painting the Keys aren’t supposed to be offended right? Because they are being insulted by such an artistic genius? Perhaps you should stop taking yourself so seriously. The Keys were fun and interesting and so are the baseballs.
How proposterous is it for you to suggest that just because “Every city in America has them” that they are legitimate? I’m sure “every city in America” has sculptures too.
Sarah, I have a feeling that you have no idea how snobby you come across.
Whoa, whoa, whoa… I think that the people who worked on the Keys did a fine job. They are hardworking and talented people. It is the PROJECT that I find cliche and dull. The concept is tiresome, the shape of the Keys was bizarre and uninteresting, but the people who worked on them did well with what they were given.
My point is that Frederick is full of talented and hard-working artists, but painting keys and balls aren’t the best way to showcase their talents.