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Is It Art? – Pike Place Market Gum Wall

5 comments

Posted by Jonathan on Jan 15, 2013 | 5 comments

The Pike Place Market Gum Wall in Seattle, Washington, like the Beer Can House in Houston, Texas is another one of those creations that beg the question, “Is it art”. The Oxford American Dictionary defines art as, “the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.”

At its most basic the gum wall is nothing more than a brick alleyway in downtown Seattle covered with gum. In 1993 patrons of the “Unexpected Productions’ Seattle Theatresports” began to stick gum to the wall and placed coins in the blobs of gum. Twice workers tried to scrape away the gum but a tradition had begun and eventually they gave up. In 1999 Pike Place Market officials declared the gum wall an official tourist attraction. The ever growing wall is now several inches thick, 15 feet high and over 50 feet wide.

But, the question remains, “Is it art?” The wall certainly has emotional power but, that emotion is often “ewww” or “gross”. Does it show creativity or imagination? Maybe a little. Skill? Nope. I did however find it interesting and if it is not art in and of itself, it is a testament to people’s need to express themselves and cooperatively create things. In my mind that – if not this work – is important and I will reluctantly concede that, like the Beer Can House, it is art. What do you think?

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  • http://mslistologist.com Annette | Bucket List Journey

    Good question. I made a contribution to the Seattle Gum wall last year and didn’t do it as a form of artistic expression as much as just to be a part of a community. Though, I do think it is a form of art because it is viewed and appreciated.

  • http://www.wildsofwherever.com/ Callie

    I think it is! Sometimes art just happens.

  • http://www.facebook.com/gary.langrick Gary Langrick

    I must admit I don’t understand art, just the same way I don’t understand fashion.

    If you like looking at something and would like it on your wall or mantle piece can you not just put it up and call it art because it looks nice. So then why must something be called art just because someone tells us it is, and if its the right person telling you the price shoots up.

    I feel the same with fashion. I will never forget my brother (very fashion conscious) giving me an expensive shirt and telling me he would not wear it anymore (he had only worn it a couple of times) because he would look an idiot in it because it was last years. Now I think if you look like an idiot in it now, the chances are you looked an idiot in it last year.

    But hey this is just me. Along the way I seemed to of taken a side step from most of humanity and as fast as I could try and run I will never catch up now.

    I have a calender that my son made for me when he was six, all misshapen but with a big smiley face and finger prints all over it, but it will always be art to me.

  • BeyondBlighty

    I like it more than most modern art, and it’s nice that anyone can contribute. Kind of gross to think of people pressing their gum into a hardening wall of other people’s saliva, but each to their own :)

  • http://twitter.com/Ayngelina Ayngelina

    I went to Seattle and completely forgot about this wall. I don’t know if it’s art or not but I would still like to see it.