Spillover II

May 31, 2013: R Felly plays art critic on Unilocal.
*For those after the abridged version, just skip to the end of the review.
From Wikipedia, the internet’s formost bastion of comprehensive knowledge:
«Spillover II is a public artwork by Catalan artist Jaume Plensa, located in Atwater Park, which is in Shorewood, Wisconsin, United States. The public artwork depicts an 8 ½ ft. crouching man, whose open form is made up of steel letters. It is installed on a 2 ft. high concrete base and was publicly dedicated on September 21, 2010.»
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Hold my hand. Let’s journey forth together into the recesses of my terrible mind, dear friends and readers.
(In sequential order)
Thought 1. (intake)
… the fuck is this thing?
Thought 2. (identification/​cognition)
It’s some zen-​ass dude made of big-​ass metal letters. Okay?
Thought 3. (analysis)
1. Wait! It’s definitely okay! This shit is deep.
2. Noam Chomsky’s famed language acquisition device as both a blessing and a curse in tangible, artistic form. Cool!
3. It’s the complexity of man, the woe and wonder… for words exist simultaneously as both nothing and everything, incapable of conveyance and capable of conveying everything (just as Beckett and Joyce mused, dichotomous of course).
4. The natural and the man-​made man! Organic meets metal! This shit is deep! Fuck yeah!
5. Yeah.
Thought 4. (visceral)
This thing makes me feel weird.
Thought 5. (further analysis)
Wait! The view atop Atwater’s hill where this alphabet dude human form literally sits on his alphabet havin’-ass is gorgeous and full of natural beauty. Why in the sam hill did we elect to put this thing HERE?
Thought 6. (societal constructs)
Yes, the artist is famous and the piece was commissioned as part of a public art initiative. Does that automatically make it «good» or «right» for the park or our city? Is this automatically «good» because the artist is from «Spain» and did the fountain in Millenium Park in «Chicago?»
Thought 7. (visceral thoughts/​feelings regarding civic identity)
MILWAUKEE: Stop worrying about Chicago! Christ.
Thought 8. (artistic statement/​intent)
Well, I know what I think this thing is meant to mean, but what about the artist? What is Plensa really «saying» here?
:ponders:
Thought 9. (verdict)
Who cares? I don’t. DON’T CARE. This is a stupid place for this thing, anyways.
Thought 10. (ambivalence translated)
Ooh! I’m not far from Otto’s. DISCOUNT WINE BIN FTW!
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*Abridged Version:
Behold! A review for a giant statue made of metal letters that blocks a gorgeous natural view of Lake Michigan.
Two stars total, because as much as I love Waiting For Godot, this thing just isn’t right right here.

I’m going to have to politely (unless she wants to fight. Street fight, Rach?) disagree with Rachel. I like the word man, as I will call him. He gazes out to sea (yes, I know, but it really looks like the sea from there), pondering our existence and makes us ponder as well. It’s a good spot to ponder. And to picnic.
I would argue that his placement there doesn’t block the view (he’s kinda see-​through anyway), but rather, highlights it. He is appreciating it, just as we are.