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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Chris Honoré: The Zadroga 9/11 Health Care Act ... Land cleanup, land plans up for discussion ... To be someone else, it helps to know who you are ... Chris Honoré: The Zadroga 9/11 Health Care Act ... Land cleanup, land plans up for discussion ... To be someone else, it helps to know who you are ... LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the Editor, Oct. 2 Comment DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Oct. 2, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Oct. 2, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Supporting 'Gather' I am in support of the current direction for the Ashland Gateway: “Gather” by Susan Zoccola. This sculpture selection is the result of a several-year process of specifying the project, calling for entries, selecting finalists, and all the while gaining input from the Ashland citizenry, local area artists and the Historic Commission. The contemporary piece does reflect our community. All one has to realize is that Ashland is on a world stage now; witness the reactions on various fronts to the standing of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. We are much more than a collection of early 20th century homes set amid National Forest land. The artist's design makes interesting parallels to the torus geometric shape in nature and physics, while evoking Native American basketry. It is a compelling, though admittedly fairly neutral, shape. It is also totally unexpected, and that is another reason I like it so much. Supporting this work is also a support of a long dialogue. Will you ever find a sculpture that everyone would approve of? Probably not. But you have an excellent choice in “Gather.” P.S. I do wish it would spin, however! Jamie Hutchinson Ashland A matter of taste I am writing in response to George Kramer’s guest opinion piece on the “Gateway Project” in the Ashland Daily Tidings of Sept. 19. Any discussion of Mr. Kramer’s input on public policy in Ashland must recognize and applaud his multiple and valuable contributions to maintaining and enhancing the historic elements of our city. However, according to Kramer the “Gateway Project” suffers from issues of conception, execution and process. That is Kramer’s opinion; the fact that the project emanated from a Public Arts Commission appointed by the mayor to represent the values of the city at large does not make the project ipso facto a failure. By carefully parsing Kramer’s logic, one is led to conclude that there is no room for a work of contemporary art in our “historic downtown core.” I’m sure we all agree that “40 years of diligent public and private effort to support and enhance its (Ashland’s) historic character” has been successful but I do not see why a contemporary piece cannot be incorporated into our downtown, particularly in the island proposed where there is nothing of an historic character to conflict with it. Kramer takes issue with the Public Art Commission’s charge to create a “landmark … iconic” to Ashland, that it was “naïve and presumptuous.” On the contrary, in our culture, whether in education, in science, in technology and/or in social endeavors, it is only by aiming high that we achieve superior results. Also, Kramer emphasizes the importance of context in the placement of public art suggesting that “overpriced, often vapid” contemporary art has no place downtown. Given the location of the “Gateway Project” interposed between the modern fire station and the equally modern library addition, one could as well argue that the context here argues for a modern, contemporary piece. What all the dissonance regarding the “Gateway Project” comes down to is a matter of taste and opinion. Some of us are fans of modern art (I’m not one) and thrive on it, some are history buffs (me) and want to learn from and preserve as much of it as possible, but we are all members of a democratic community and should respect each other’s views and tastes and accept the consequences of that respect. John W. Barton Ashland Must-see film series The best environmental film I’ve ever seen will be showing soon at the Ashland library. “Years of Living Dangerously” was as entertaining as any feature film. Nine weekly episodes about global warming, each on a Wednesday from noon to 1:30, starting Oct. 7. (Each episode stands alone, so you don’t have to see them all.) It’s in the Guanajuato Room, and it’s free. We’ve all noticed how the weather is getting warmer and that there are more droughts and wildfires. As the earth heats up, water dries up and fire starts and spreads more easily. I hope you’ll go and educate yourself about one of the most crucial happenings on our planet. Ambuja Rosen Ashland DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Oct. 2, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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