It seems like there are a number of good ideas on how to get our public art program back on a firm historical track. As expected, we have the usual divergence of opinions on Quetzacotl and his/her/its relative worth. Some wish it melted down or given back; others hope to use it as object d’art discussion. Both suggestions have merit.
A number of people on the blog and in random comments around the city have strongly supported the idea of honoring Cesar Chavez. Gil Hernandez of South Bay Bronze, one of the finest foundries in California, even offered a not to exceed bid of one hundred thousand dollars – that would be a boon in an era of cost overruns and out of control city projects.
I like Gil’s bid and his enthusiasm for local history. There are so many men and women and events to honor if we only choose to have the will power to do so.
It should be a straightforward decision for our City.
San Jose should not become a place that either stores its art, as in the case of Fallon, or ‘returns it to sender’ as suggested for our Aztec god. One is cowardly; the other timid. We can do better than those two options – we have to do better.
First, let’s remember that the Captain Fallon statue honors the raising of the American flag in San Jose and our imminent inclusion into the United States. We have to tell our history fully and honestly. Can any moderately unbiased person this side of Javier Salazar and a few members of the San Jose Mercury editorial board with their case of terminal political correctness, object to this? I hope five years into the 21st Century the answer is “no”.
And is this the time to honor Cesar Chavez with a rendering befitting his life? That answer should also be easy. Perhaps Chavez can be surrounded by some of his more notable quotes. I am sure the children of San Jose and the many visitors to our city would find that more inspirational than the snake god image. And perhaps, Bob Noyce, Fr. Mateo Sheedy and other heroes should not be far behind. At long last in our city, it is time to return to common sense and sound judgment.
Maybe we are focused on the wrong park.
How about a statue commemorating that other big historical event in San Jose, the St. James Park lynchings?
Talk about a conversation starter! Every right wing nut-job talk radio host in the nation will be congratulating San Jose. Downtown merchants would make a fortune selling souvenir neckties. Best of all, everyone will forget about Quezzie!
Given the international coverage given to the Wendy’s finger fiasco, it seems only fitting that a statue be erected of a giant finger.
Sadly, San Jose is now better known around the world for the finger recipe than anything else. All this coverage and the taxpayers didn’t even get hit to pay for this (yet) and no trees had to be destroyed on the streets.
Annoyed with the void? Me too.
Think we should embrace Quetzie? Me too.
Therefore turn the island into Quetzie-land.
Quetzie serpentine water slide next to the fountain.
Quetzie reptile house with giant snakes of all kinds.
Quetzie Donut drive through.
Quetzie museum featuring video screenings of the unveiling ceremony on the half hour.
The piece de resistance?
Every Friday night at the north end, stage mock virgin sacrifices on a giant altar with Aztec priests dressed as Quetzie, giant fires, and everything.
What better way for us to demonstrate our sensitivity, diversity, and tolerance than by celebrating pagan sacrifices from foreign cultures?
I’m all in favor of more public art as long as there is some kind of preliminary rendering of the finished product. We do not need another practical joke played by an artist with the worst of intentions who leaves a big pile on our doorstep. Moving Queztie into a pit as Dale has described would help somewhat, and should be part of the larger project that puts something more pleasing to the eye in the spot that he vacates. But I still maintain that the best move for Quetzie is to the Mexican Heritage compound, and this is something that needs to be pushed. Hire the people from United Artists to get it done under cover of darkness.
Prior to being pinched-off and deposited on the lawn in Plaza Park, Quetzacotl had no connection to this city. He was a god to neither the region’s indigenous peoples nor the Spanish conquistadors who conquered them. The Spaniards and Mexican people who first settled here under Spanish domination (followed by a brief period of Mexican rule) were devout Catholics who came here to serve the church (they honored Jesus, not Quetzacotl, in the missions they erected). At the time San Jose leaders decided to honor the plumed serpent, Quetzacotl was virtually unknown here, with no geographical, cultural, or religious connection to this city, valley, or state.
Nonetheless, today the statue of Quetzacotl has great local significance: it is uniquely representative of public ignorance, the politics of race, and the dismal state of our civic leadership. When I look at the coiled abomination that disgraces our city I am reminded of this from H.L. Mencken:
“The typical lawmaker of today is a man devoid of principle—a mere counter in a grotesque and knavish game. If the right pressure could be applied to him he would be cheerfully in favor of polygamy, astrology, or cannibalism.”
What I would like to see added to the Quetzacotl monument is a bronze urinal listing for eternity the names of the pandering politicians who honored this foreign god and, in the process, dismissed our very history.
Fallon should be the centerpiece because guess what, his side won and his flag is the one that flies over this country up to this date.
If antidote to Fallon is really required, then there’s a lot of other historical figures who can be honored under the same theme- Junipero Serra, De Anza, the governor who made San Jose the capital of California, etc.
Why don’t we let the people of San Jose decide as to where to put the Fallon statue? Put it as a local ballot initiative instead of letting city hall functionaries and cultural interest groups engage in a Mexican standoff over it.
I sincerely hope that finfan is not using his real name because he knows that someday soon he might be running for local office. We needed people like him to prevent the damage that Susan Hammer inflicted on downtown, but better late than never. It’s time to fight back against the politics of race that got us Quetzie front & center and Fallon exiled to Oakland, that lost us the Studio theatre as a home for the Rep and instead gave us the cramped blue wedge, and it seems that finfan’s The Man to do it. Keep telling it like it truly is, finfan.
The next mayor should be the older gentleman that is a fixture at the council meetings – and whom cuffs the council about the head for 2 minutes after each agenda item.
If someone can provide his name – I’ll write him in for mayor at the next election.
Mark-
I suspect finfan is too smart to run for public office in this town.
If a plan is developed to improve the plaza with historically relevant art, don’t forget to return the old town bell, well over a century old, to a place of dignity.
In addition, what about recognizing the mayor who started the public library and who established the once-grand public park, Alum Rock Park? His name is Dolph Pfister and his memory has practically been wiped out.
Even the library refused to recognize his pivotal role in starting the library without a very substantial contribution—its very own version of pay-to-play. It is strictly cash for historical representations at the library.
Pfister was a Democrat, an immigrant from Alsace, and untouched by any scandal. He probably had more impact on the city than any other single mayor. Let’s recognize his really major contributions, too.
May I advise all of you that read and participate on this web site whether named or not, that, I have not a clue who Fallon was. What I do know is that it was cast in Italy, and spent the past 10 + years in solitary confinement, until the present mayor had it erected at Pelier Park. I have yet to ask WHY? Does any one have the answer?
If the front rider is Fallon, who is the second rider and why is he or she not named? Did Fallon’s horse have a name? How many stars on the flag Fallon is holding?
It is not enough to place a monument before the people. One thing is sure, the Plastic Snake was placed with out our acceptance, as was the Fallon cast with out our blessings.
The question before us is what will it take to square the process.
We all know that The Park Snake will never be loved! Not for it’s design, but because it was thrust upon us by the politics of the moment. Fallon will never be loved by the masses, because it too was thrust upon us by the politics of the moment. I could go on, but you have gotten the idea!
I have an honest question. Why did the people responsible for the Plastic snake not erect a Ceaser Chavez memorial. a half a million dollars certainly would have covered the costs involved.
If Fallon was such a great guy, let’s place him in the front of the New City Hall. Surely our Mayor saw fit to take Fallon out of the closet. Who makes all these kinds of decisions anyway. Seem to me politics has not worked here. Let’s face it. How old is Fallon and his side kick and how old is the Plastic Snake. Let’s see a show of hands for where these pieces of political art should be placed. All in favor of————.
Egos aside, the Fallon goes to the New City Hall, the Plastic Snake goes to the Mexican Heritage Plaza. A bronze sculpture of Larry Stone fielding a hard ground liner in a A’S uniform goes to the New Ball Park across the river from Henry’s Hi Life. Ceasar Chavez goes to the Park named for him and the Fire Fighters and police bronze sculpture goes to the south end of the Park replacing the “Bell”. I Love that one!
Joe Rodriguez gets bronzed and goes to Las Brasas relishing a Taco. John Papavich and the Dimwits get bronzed and get placed at the Athletic Club in the Jucuzzi.
Am I still with in the half million dollar buget for all of these sculptures? Tom, seeing as how you have the ability to take so much, I’ll even throw in a life size sculpture of Bill Chew that can be placed in the center divider at Santa Clara and Market St. with cow boy hat and roller skates of course!
Is this fun or what???
The Village Black Smith
Gil Hernandez
South Bay bronze
Made in the USA
Since we live in a time of conflict between “interested parties” (ie look at city hall today, big labor vrs big developers) we should build both a statue for Chavez and his nemisis Gallo. Could have information about the lives of both people / families.
Gallos treatment of migrant farm workers was a major reason for Chavez’s life’s mission. As time went on; both of these men found common ground on issues; but still lived on in conflict with each other. Oddly, both of these men passed away in the same actual week.
Tom & Gil:
Wherever we decide to put the statue, please spell his name coirrectly on the placque—it’s Cesar, not Caesar.
John Michael O’Connor
Gil: I’m glad you appreciated the sarcasm in my misspellings.
JM
1ST OF ALL GET THAT CRAP OFF THE LAWN ,BRING THE BELL BACK FROM WHO KNOWS WHO HAS IT ,THE OLD FIRE BELL , AND KICK THAT DUMMY OUT OF THE MAYORS OFFICE (AND MAKE HIM PAY FOR THE GARBAGE BILL ) STUPID MOVE RONNIE ,NOW I COULD GO ON AND ON BUT WHY WASTE THIS SPACE FOR MORE PRODUCTIVE THINGS LIKE ,WHO’S GETS TO PAY FOR THE CUSTOM MADE WINDOW SQUEEGIE FOR THE NEW UNDERSIZED CIVIC CENTER, THIS TRASH DEAL SHOULD BURST THAT BUBBLE
DING DONG RON STEPS IN ANOTHER PILE OF TRASH,WATSON PARK WELL WE DID,NT KNOW IT WAS A DUMP,DUH HOW MANY TIMES WERE YOU INFORMED 2OR 3 LEAD ARSENIC TOXIC GLOW IN THE DARK WATSON PARK AND NOT TO MENTION A SCHOOL TOO OPPS WE DID IT AGAIN WE THOUGHT NOBODY WOULD CATCH OR REMEMBER THAT WAS THE CITY DUMP FOR 20 YEARS WELL LETS PUT UP A MILLION BUCKS AND MAKE IT GO AWAY (AND STIFF THE TAX PAYERS AGAIN) TO DO A ENVIROMENTAL IMPACT DING DONG STUDYTO SEE IF ITS REALLY TOXIC THE MAYOR OF SAN JOSE IS ,IS JUST A LITTLE BIT BETTER, THEN NOTHING AT ALL ,SWEEP IT UNDER THE RUG