So apparently the Portsmouth Museum decided to hold an open forum to discuss the murals around town painted for the exhibition...and naturally no one who signed the petition denouncing the murals showed up.
From the
Seacoast Online:
PORTSMOUTH — Street art has raised much discussion and debate throughout the city in recent weeks, but an open forum welcoming that debate drew only supporters.
Approximately 30 people attended the Portsmouth Museum of Fine Arts Wednesday Discussion Series focused on the Street a.k.a. Museum exhibition, with those present speaking in support of the 10 murals that began popping up around town in early May. They called the exhibition "inspiring," "enriching" and "beautiful."
While the forum was meant to generate a public dialogue between those for and against the street art, it was not attended by members of the group of 45 city residents who signed a petition asked that there be a public hearing and/or discussion with the Arts Council before "they inflict their next display upon the residents of the city."
Attendees on Wednesday night expressed confusion at why opponents of the art work wouldn't attend a forum to present their opinions.
"Maybe we could see where they came from, maybe they could see where people are coming from who enjoy the art and maybe it will open our minds," said Todd Kramer, a local artist who served as mediator of Wednesday's forum.
South End resident Lisa Corcoran asked the approximately 30-member crowd if any were of the petitioning group. No one raised a hand or spoke.
The crowd asked about logistics of the exhibit, like the process the museum followed with the city in bringing the exhibit to Portsmouth, and also explored the visions behind some of the murals.
Portsmouth resident Seth Lavine said he had difficulty figuring out the intent behind the murals.
"Does anybody get anything out of this other than, 'It's real nice, it's pretty, it's progressive, it's fascinating'?" he asked.
Cathy Sununu, director and board president of Portsmouth Museum of Art, said the Street a.k.a. Museum exhibit achieved its goal.
"There are people who have voiced their displeasure at what was out in the streets. We took this outside the museum walls, and you're going to have a different and broader reaction," she said, adding that the museum received three negative phone calls and one negative e-mail, though the concern voiced at City Hall could have been at a higher rate. The Portsmouth Herald received numerous letters to the editor, both in support of and against the street art.
"Our primary objective is to be an educational institution. While our goal isn't to make people angry, it is to make them think," Sununu said.
The exhibit has been covered by media outlets around the country and the world, Sununu said, referencing inquiries she's received from San Francisco to France.
Elizabeth Hess Kilgore, of York, Maine, said she loves the fact that the exhibit hit a nerve with some people.
"I'm delighted that this has caused the issue that it has for so many people. I'm delighted that people went so far as to circulate a petition that they don't like it," she said. "I love that people get to have that reaction and discussion. It's the conflict that creates growth and I think that's exactly what has happened and everybody in this city wins."
Some asked if those at the museum and local artists thought the exhibit would change the Seacoast arts scene.
"That's up to Portsmouth. I think this has inspired a lot of people," Kramer said. "That doesn't mean we are all going to go out and start tagging buildings. It's good to have change and that can inspire people, and I think that's what this did."
