Patrick Marold

You Might Recognize:

Shadow Array @ Denver’s international Airport; Solar Drones @ The National Music Centre in Calgary, AB ; The Windmill Project 2000-Present in Iceland, Vermont, WY, Colorado; Contrails @ Dallas Love Field International Airport ; The Bale @ CSU’s Spur Campus in Denver.

Public Art Average Success Rate:

4% average

 Rejected Project Proposal

Proposed Project Location:

Phoenix, Arizona

Concept:

I had proposed a three dimensional, spherical map of global flight patterns suspended in a 4 story atrium of the new terminal at the Phoenix's Airport. I was excited about how the scale of the work revealed an interesting perspective of the earth and how air travel draws out another layer of habitation. The materials and construction also drew from the color palette and texture of the Arizona desert, so that the concept started to reveal an organic, almost tumble-weed, quality. It was going to be a very challenging piece to create, but that often motivates my creative process.

"I Regret to Inform You..." Artist Response:

I really resisted the rejection personally because I was actually selected by the committee to create the proposed concept. It was the public art program director, Mr Lebow, that seemed to have a problem with my proposal, or me, or a combination of both. I felt that the process had been hijacked by one person's agenda, but I also realize this is more often the case than not in how opportunities come to us or don't come to us. The initial rejection did motivate me a bit, because I argued that I could work with the program, and eventually I prepared two additional proposals on my own time, simply trying to salvage the opportunity. All three were rejected by Mr Lebow. I learned a lot from this rejection, and it reminded me that it is not always a matter of quality or hard work. I do not regret putting in the extra effort to try and turn the outcome back my way, though I do regret directing that effort towards the person that rejected my project. I allowed it to become a matter between myself and one person (and his assistant), rather than turning it back to the public committee, as it should be. It's very possible that I do not understand all the circumstances of this unsuccessful project proposal, but this one burned a bit more than others. Coincidentally a friend and artist I know was awarded the commission years later for the same project, which is always a bright note in any rejection. I have contentedly lost many opportunities to friends and artists that I really respect.

Additional Thoughts:

I have come to really appreciate the process of developing concepts simply for the sake of imagining something compelling enough to share and present to others. I want to recognize Michael Mowry for the work he provides by digitally rendering many of my ideas, including this one for Phoenix. He is highly skilled and his service often allows me to push the development of these ideas further than I would otherwise.