Under the bridge: attitudes on vandalism of public art in Seattle, Washington

Abstract

Many busy cities are full of public art, but who owns the art and what happens when it is defaced? This study aimed to expand current understandings of public perceptions and attitudes towards vandalism of public art. Sixty-five members of the public were interviewed at four sites of public art in King County, WA, including Ebb and Flow, Columnseum, SODO Track, and the Fremont Troll. People were asked about their thoughts and feelings around recent vandalism of these public artworks. Findings suggest that few people know that public art is indeed owned by the public, and that people have mixed feelings towards vandalism and whether it should be cleaned from public art. The study has implications for caretakers of public spaces who are interested in reducing maintenance efforts and costs.