Public art: eyesore or eye candy?

CN&R editors vote on three Chico works

This article was published on 07.03.08

Public art rarely elicits unanimous praise (or distaste). Large-scale pieces in Chico always receive community response, both good and bad. We took a poll of the six CN&R editors on three prominent, dare we say controversial, pieces, and we were hardly unanimous (except on one). Everyone knows Our Hands outside City Hall, which was finished in 2000 by Donna Billick, but fewer might be familiar with The Silver Plow along Park Avenue (John T. Young, 2001). And the newest addition to the City Plaza, The Heritage Elm Sculpture Project, which we’ve dubbed “The Horns,” was made by Owen Gabbert from the old elms that used to stand there. Here are our votes.

Our Hands

Eyesore: 0
Eye candy: 6

The Silver Plow

Eyesore: 4
Eye candy: 2