exploding_geeks
Chinatown and the Red Granite Dragon
We thought this sculpture was a little odd... and apparently it's had a lot of controversy. Below is excerpts from the Dec. 1, 2006 ed. of the Portland Tribune. One of the photos they included showed the statue with pieces missing, obviously the work of vandals. I guess mine was before that; the statue must have been pretty new when we were visiting. Also check out this photo of Ry standing near the statue, with the mentioned restaurant in the background. Here's another shot of (the corner of) the House of Louie; could that be manager James Leung just outside?
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VERDICT: ART MISSES MARK
Chinatown finds little to like in dragon sculpture
One of Portland's newest public art installations--a dragon in Chinatown--was meant to beautify the streets as well as help attract private investment to create jobs, boosts tourism and improve the area's tax base.
So far, however, the sculpture just seems to have caused a lot of grief.
Members of the Chinese community say they are confused and offended by the artist's portrayal of the dragon, the most powerful and divine symbol in Chinese culture.
With a large metal cuff around its neck and big spikes sticking outward it appears to be shackled, they say, and awkwardly hanging below a block of red granite. Stainless steel bars surround it as it dangles over an upside-down wok, which spills out pieces of duck and other food.
The artist said he only has heard of this controversy through [public art manager of the nonprofit Regional Arts & Culture Council, Kristin] Calhoun and doesn't know what to make of it.
[Artist Brian] Goldbloom said his original design was a dragon rising from the base of the sculpture, but he was told that in Chinese culture, dragons never come from the ground. So he made the dragon come from the sky, the big block of granite above its head.
The metal portion at the top, Goldbloom said, "was meant to have a gesture of upswept roofs," as at the Portland Classical Chinese Garden nearby.
"It didn't have anything to do with the dragon,"Goldbloom said. "there's no meaning to the dragon having a collar. That was never in my mind. The whole thing of putting it up there in the first place was to free this thing, coming out of the sky."
Critics have also charged that an upside down wok signifies being impoverished, having nothing to eat and--for restaurants--doing out of business.
"Chinese use a wok in cooking, to sell, make a living," said James Leung, manager of the House of Louie restaurant, a few steps from the dragon piece. "To turn over means to sell, to quit. We just don't want that in front of my restaurant. I have to see it every day."
Goldbloom said that's not what he heard from members of the Chinese community during the input process. He was told that the wok is an appropriate reference to the chinese food industry, but it's bad luck to store a wok right-side up.
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Chinatown and the Red Granite Dragon
We thought this sculpture was a little odd... and apparently it's had a lot of controversy. Below is excerpts from the Dec. 1, 2006 ed. of the Portland Tribune. One of the photos they included showed the statue with pieces missing, obviously the work of vandals. I guess mine was before that; the statue must have been pretty new when we were visiting. Also check out this photo of Ry standing near the statue, with the mentioned restaurant in the background. Here's another shot of (the corner of) the House of Louie; could that be manager James Leung just outside?
---
VERDICT: ART MISSES MARK
Chinatown finds little to like in dragon sculpture
One of Portland's newest public art installations--a dragon in Chinatown--was meant to beautify the streets as well as help attract private investment to create jobs, boosts tourism and improve the area's tax base.
So far, however, the sculpture just seems to have caused a lot of grief.
Members of the Chinese community say they are confused and offended by the artist's portrayal of the dragon, the most powerful and divine symbol in Chinese culture.
With a large metal cuff around its neck and big spikes sticking outward it appears to be shackled, they say, and awkwardly hanging below a block of red granite. Stainless steel bars surround it as it dangles over an upside-down wok, which spills out pieces of duck and other food.
The artist said he only has heard of this controversy through [public art manager of the nonprofit Regional Arts & Culture Council, Kristin] Calhoun and doesn't know what to make of it.
[Artist Brian] Goldbloom said his original design was a dragon rising from the base of the sculpture, but he was told that in Chinese culture, dragons never come from the ground. So he made the dragon come from the sky, the big block of granite above its head.
The metal portion at the top, Goldbloom said, "was meant to have a gesture of upswept roofs," as at the Portland Classical Chinese Garden nearby.
"It didn't have anything to do with the dragon,"Goldbloom said. "there's no meaning to the dragon having a collar. That was never in my mind. The whole thing of putting it up there in the first place was to free this thing, coming out of the sky."
Critics have also charged that an upside down wok signifies being impoverished, having nothing to eat and--for restaurants--doing out of business.
"Chinese use a wok in cooking, to sell, make a living," said James Leung, manager of the House of Louie restaurant, a few steps from the dragon piece. "To turn over means to sell, to quit. We just don't want that in front of my restaurant. I have to see it every day."
Goldbloom said that's not what he heard from members of the Chinese community during the input process. He was told that the wok is an appropriate reference to the chinese food industry, but it's bad luck to store a wok right-side up.
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