Art by committee isn’t art, it’s an illustration

Berlin’s Historic District Commission doesn’t know quite what to do with the mural proposed by artist Evan Fitzgerald for the side of the Poole building at 10 South Main Street.

At issue are a couple of fantastical elements in his proposed work: a fox with antlers and a heron with a flower behind its nonexistent ear. Flights of fancy such as these run through all his work and it’s what he’s known for as an artist.

The commission, however, is not sure whether these non-traditional asides work with the district’s surroundings, but before it weighs in on that, it should consider three bigger questions: does its portfolio give it authority over artistic content; two, does it really want that authority; three, if it does have the authority, how does it render a decision based on anything besides members’ own personal tastes?

That’s a major issue, because there’s no such thing as a painting or a style typical of the late 1800s. Like the art of today, paintings of that era were as varied as the personalities and styles of the artists who created them — landscapes, impressionism, Western, realism, romantic and fantasy.

Further, even though the purpose of art in society is a multitude of things, the one thing it should be is noticeable. Otherwise, it’s not much more than decorative wallpaper that blends in with its surroundings.

Fitzgerald has said he is willing to compromise to some extent, but, to his credit, will only go so far. Were he to give in, he would be agreeing to produce an illustration as instructed, instead of doing what he was commissioned to do — express himself as an artist, who is also a member of the community.

Although commission members are sincere about wanting to do the right thing by the district, the town and Fitzgerald, they have no playbook to go by and no artistic basis to draw on given the many variations of painting styles and subject matter of the late 1800s.

Worse, they will be criticized no matter what they do … unless they do nothing, which may be the wisest course for them to take.