The Spoonbridge and Cherry: Is Good Art?

By Alex in Art, Pictures, Travel on Jul 16, 2008 at 2:35 am

By Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen. Photo: Walker Art Center

The Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota is celebrating its 20th anniversary of its Sculpture Garden (with the iconic Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture). Most Twin Cities residents are so familiar with the Spoonbridge that they rarely discuss it as art – but is it art?

City Pages blog invited Peter Eleey, a curator at the Walker Art Center, to talk about the giant spoon and cherry: Link

Neat stuff from the NeatoShop:

SenorMysterioso
Jul 16th, 2008 at 3:13 am
We have an Oldenburg piece here outside of the Denver Art Museum, its a giant dustpan and handbroom
davedonelson
Jul 16th, 2008 at 3:31 am
Here’s a definition to consider: it’s art if viewing it opens your mind; good art if remembering it evokes the feeling again.
Dave Donelson, author of Heart of Diamonds
ted
Jul 16th, 2008 at 6:37 am
If it’s a Spoonbridge, where’s the water?
Idil
Jul 16th, 2008 at 6:43 am
of course it’s art… I hate it though
Adam Stanhope
Jul 16th, 2008 at 8:32 am
Of course it’s art!
RM
Jul 16th, 2008 at 10:30 am
Awful art.
Miranda
Jul 16th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Wow, who is to decide what is good or bad art? If I don’t like it does that make it bad art? Nope, that makes it something I don’t like.. I love the Walker and the spoon bridge. It’s a MPLS icon and the water, is under the handle of the spoon.
sparge
Jul 16th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
I’d rather take the meat bridge.
Blaze
Jul 16th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
There is no spoon.
mcsuede
Jul 16th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
One of my all time favorites, I grew up visiting the Walker frequently. One of the pieces that inspired me to go into art history.
Sunny
Jul 16th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Well, the spoon isn’t practical for dining, and I’m betting that cherry doesn’t taste so good, so I’d have to guess that it’s art. It certainly isn’t a functional object.
Holly
Jul 16th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Don’t forget that water sprays out of the end of the cherry stem!
non-mouse
Jul 16th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
“is it art?” is the most boring question anyone can ever ask about an object. The answer is invariably yes.
zachol
Jul 17th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Of course it’s art. It’s also stupid. Compared to all the other nifty things at the Walker, I don’t understand the appeal.
Chris C
Jul 17th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
I see that and think food fight. Question is what is the cherry aimed at? hehe

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