This book takes a bold look at public art and its populist appeal,offering a more inclusive guide to America's creative tastes andshared culture. It examines the history of American public art- from FDR's New Deal to Christo's The Gates -and challenges preconceived notions of public art, expanding itsdefinition to include a broader scope of works and concepts.* Expands the definition of public art to include sites such asBoston's Big Dig, Las Vegas' Treasure Island, and Disney World* Offers a refreshing alternative to the traditional rhetoric andcriticism surrounding public art* Includes insightful analysis of the museum and its role inrelation to public art

Dedication.Acknowledgements.Preface.1. Introduction: A Short History of the United States'"Official" Public Art.Roosevelt's New Deal.General Services Administration's Art-in ArchitectureProgram.National Endowment for the Arts' Art-in-Public-PlacesProgram.2. Conventional Wisdom: Populist Intentions within EstablishedParadigms.Art as Monument, Art as Memorial.Art as Amenity.Art in the Park, Art as the Park.Art as the Agora.Art as Pilgrimage.3. Culture to Go: From Art World to The World.What Museums Do for Us.My Museum.Education, Outreach, Programming.The Alternative Museum/Alternatives to Museums.4. Not Quite "Art," Not Quite "Public":Lessons from the Private Sector.The Art of Entertainment.This is Special, I am Special.Open Pocketbook, Open Agenda?.Embracing Spectacle.5. Super Viewer: Increasing Individual Agency on the Public ArtFront.Power to the People.Claiming Space and Place.Dig In.6. Conclusion: Art for All?.The Trouble with (Re)Development.Nonprofits and the Ephemeral Idyll.Back to School.Grieving Loss, Remembering Life.Two Tales in One City.Bibliography.Index