Rant: The digital art at the new library in Springfield was a real letdown

I went to the grand opening of the new public library in Springfield yesterday, and they had a whole section for a digital art display. The screens were huge, but every single piece was just a basic, slow-moving gradient or a simple geometric shape. It felt like they just bought a cheap stock video pack. I talked to one of the staff, and she said the city only budgeted $500 for the whole digital art project. Has anyone else seen public digital art that actually tried to do something interesting?

3 comments

3 Comments

felixm293d ago

Saw a great one in Portland last year. It was an interactive wall that changed with the weather. Rain made digital ripples, sun made it bloom. Felt alive, not like a screensaver.

sarahpark2d agoMost Upvoted

That "felt alive" part is what really gets me. So much public art just sits there, but this kind reacts to the world around it. It makes the whole city feel more connected.

fionafoster2d ago

That "felt alive, not like a screensaver" part is so true. I read an article about how the best public art now feels like a living system. It talked about that exact Portland piece, saying the tech was hidden so you just felt the effect. Makes me wish more cities would try stuff like that instead of just putting up another statue.