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If your community is working with Channel 4 on the Big Art Project, you'll be working with an artist to think about these questions. But if you're getting together yourselves to commission an artist, you might want to start thinking about the kind of art you want. These questions will help you come up with some surprising ideas.
Living art – checklist
Most people, when asked for ideas on public art, will think of an object such as a mural, a statue or a monument. But many other art forms involve life or change, such as performing something, exhibiting or getting the community together to make something.
This table will help you widen your ideas:
| Animal | Vegetable | Energy and materials | |
| Sound | Shouting Storytelling Drama Singing Music Footsteps |
Rustling leaves Flapping of a banner in the breeze |
Wind chimes A recording of sound, such as footsteps |
| Sight | Drama Dance Parade People moving Sport |
Flowers Leaves Crops Landscape |
Light Fireworks Machines Local industry Raw materials Transportation Cityscape Smoke Fire Children's workshop making artificial flowers Fountains or waterfall |
| Smell | Leather Cooking |
Spices Scented flowers Foliage Newly cut grass Burning |
Fumes |
| Touch | Holding hands Working together on a project Handling animals |
Smooth leaves Bark of a tree |
Different temperature of materials Ice-skating rink |
| Taste | Cooking | Cooking | Salt spray |
Object art – checklist
Function
Should the art have a use? For example, should we be able to sit on it or under it, shelter beneath it or play on it?
Form
What form should the art take?
- Solid, liquid, gas, vapour, spray, smoke, light, heat or performance?
- Static or moving?
- Growing?
Materials
What materials should be considered?
- Animal, vegetable or mineral?
- Wood, stone, metal, plastic?
- Living or dead?
Colour and light
- Brilliant or black?
- Permanent or changing?
- Daytime or night-time?
Impact or blend
The choices range from art that fits in to art that shouts out. Think about how art would complement your area and how it could make a difference.
Features of the site
What features of the site you have chosen need to be considered?
- Orientation?
- Sun and shade?
- Season and weather change?
Does the site need to be enhanced or changed in any way to make the most of the art?
