Introduction

Perhaps the best definition of art comes from Tom Miner and Betty Goossens, who published PinchPenny, a small press magazine out of Sacramento back in the ‘80s that featured short stories and poetry.  Their definition:  Art is what you can get away with.  And that is so true.  After all, if you can convince just one person other than yourself that what you’ve just created is art, then it is.  So much the better if that one person is willing to pay.  But just what are these artists trying to get away with? 

This question is especially poignant with several statues in Seattle, in particular, “People Waiting on the Interurban” and the “Kingstones,” both by Richard Beyer, “Lenin” by Emil Vonkov, and Douglas Bennett’s “Columbus.”  And the answer?  It could be just a little playful kidding, perhaps some social commentary, or maybe standing up for what they believed was right, but in a sneaky sort of way.  Or maybe it was nothing at all.