How about this, Let's send this kid to Texas and allow him to install all the fencing he desires on the US border.

Way to be open-minded.

No one was within their rights to tamper with the fence. Whether or not it was viewed by all as "art", it was the property of the artist who, I will remind you, already compromised the integrity of his installation by allowing access to the parks. Now the fences are down ahead of schedule. Congratulations, Mt. Vernon Oppositionists- what you lack in patience and intelligence you make up for in tact and couth.

Was this artist within his rights to block access to a PUBLIC space to promote himself? No. He only opened it after being pressured to do so.

Thank God this ugly monstrosity has been taken down.

Sheeesh! The fence was to protect installation of other art created by other MICA students. It was for only 2 weeks. If Freeman co-opted the fence idea to be functional art, FINE! There is so much hostility about this fence that is beyond reasoning. Lighten up. The park isn't meant to be a receptacle for dog droppings anyway.

I beleive part of the problem with this art piece lies in its actual execution, or perhaps- its intial conception. I am referring to the use of chain-link fence, and fence that is spray-painted gold to be or "represent" a "gold" fence, and all that it implies. The end result appears nothing but tacky and low-rent and shabby, which is of course what the artist could claim is part of his statement, etc. I beleive a more substantial fence -both in appearance and execution and solidity- would have been a more effective and intense art piece and statement. Yes, chain-link fence does represent "keeping out" ala construction sites, private property- but it is a rather pedestrian type of fence and its installation around Mt. Vernon could actually be confused with actual impending work to be done on the park. The "gold" coloring on it merely confuses and does not clarify.

I, of course understand that a ridiculously tall, solid, glistening, gold-plated wrought-iron type fence with imposing spikes would be somewhat prohibitive in cost, but would pack a bit more of a gut-wallop to the visitor planning to enter the park unaware of the installation. And would be more recognizable as the art which it intends to be.

I'm already looking forward to a few years down the road when we'll all be saying:

"Hey, remember when that kid put the fence up around the park?"

"Yeah, that was funny."

"And remember how fired up people got about it?"

"Yeah, that was even funnier!"

If art's purpose is to make you think, react, or evoke emotion, it was a success!

At least he didn't use that ugly orange snow fence that seems to pop up in the Spring. I'm sure that is right around the corner...

Wonderful! His next project should be to shut down MICA for two weeks.

You know, just to get people thinking. Cause that's what great art does right, gets people thinking?

So if I think I got a lot of people thinking then that's some great art, because people are too dumb to think their own thoughts.

Why do I think they are too dumb to think on their own? Because they don't think my art is any good.

Stupid people, worried about something other than me.

Why don’t we erect a bronze statue in the park to commemorate Mt. Vernon’s philistines, vandals, and bullies?

Is childish destruction the Mt. Vernon method of voicing its impatient dissatisfaction? The artist has been the only one showing maturity is the fiasco.

If you have to think about art, then the art did NOT do its job. If art is to make a statement, then the statement must be obvious enough that the majority of people looking at it will all arrive at the same conclusion. Any message that is open to a massive amount of interpretation is nothing more than a smoke screen to cause confusion and hostility. Why do art flakes insist on keeping themselves outside the norms of society?

Wow...."If you have to think about art, then art did NOT do its (sic) job." That almost doesn't warrant a response, but I'm going to anyway.

Your argument is that art should mean the same thing to all people? Kind of a communist approach to art, don't you think? That's why it's called "the autonomy of art". I create art that means one thing to me, but once I let you see it, it's no longer mine and you interpret it as you will.

Successful art DOES create conversation- dialogue amongst those who choose to view it. It's a novel concept, this "interaction" and "dialogue" between people about meaning.

So now we're going to blame the Mt. Vernon residents for vandalizing the fence? The fence that was a vandalization of the National Historic District in the first place, and ended up damaging it? Typical.

I would love to see how proponents of this fence would react if it were put up in their own neighborhoods. Any takers?

With all that is wrong with Baltimore?
The only thing you Mt. Vernonites can get upset out about is a stoopid fence covering your stoopid little park. All of you who is upset need to get your priorites in order.

"The only thing you Mt. Vernonites can get upset out about is a stoopid fence covering your stoopid little park. All of you who is upset need to get your priorites in order."

One priority should be teaching you grammar and spelling. Did you learn that at MICA as well?

Art, has two main components: Concept and Execution. It would appear that once again MICA student art on display in Mount Vernon emphasizes the former over the latter.

In the past decade I have viewed many works of art displayed around Mt. Vernon's establishments from MICA students. With the rare exception that proves the rule - a conscientious viewer will invariably take a moment and have the following two responses - "OK I think I get what the artist wanted to 'say'" AND "Damn if it doesn't look shoddily put together/made by a 7th grader."

While I am aware that this style of construction can be a choice of the artist, when the vast majority of what is on display by students for years from the same institution, it leaves the impression that either MICA is turning out clones who all value this 'primitive/undeveloped' style or that the institution is failing to train their students fully in the craftsmanship of their chosen medium.

Since all evidence both past and present points to a value of art in varied forms of medium, display, and format it becomes highly doubtful that MICA's intent is to turn out so many 'primitive' artists. This leaves a failure in training in craft.

This is a major disappointment to those viewing the art and a disservice to all the artists who pay (now and/or over the rest of their lives) to study there.

Are Rodin, Gehry & Picasso (all public artists) celebrated simply because they have great concepts? That can hardly be the case. They are masters of their mediums and spend tireless hours, lifetimes, perfecting their craft so that when they have the impetus for artist expression they have the greatest opportunity for success in conveying that through their artwork.

Am I saying MICA's students are failures because they are not like these mentioned masters? Not at all, but until the artwork that continues to clogs up the display space in Mt Vernon (both public and private) begins to show signs of fine craftsmanship and attention to detail in it's execution my appreciation for MICA's addition to the artistic community of Mt. Vernon will continue to wane.

The debacle of a display that captured such attention these past days is one more continued example of concept over execution. While I, like many others who had the privilege of having a public space they utilize weekly if not daily for at least exercise, contemplation, and socialization held 'hostage' as a means to 'celebrate' our friend - Mt. Vernon Place. I shake my head and wonder what may have been if only the idea had been executed better.

In the meantime, I have a friend's birthday party this evening and to celebrate two of his friends have taken him, bound & gagged him, and are holding him hostage until we fully appreciate his lack of presence at the birthday party. It's our way off celebrating his existence in our lives.

(Just think - all these years we misunderstood the Ayatollah Khomeini - he was celebrating all that America represents by holding those 52 diplomats hostage.)

What do you expect from someone who believes space is not temporary unlike the this young artist? What occupies it may be quite transient (like this exhibit) but if he can prove space is temporary perhaps he belongs in the physics department up the road at Johns Hopkins. 'Clear'-ly I have misunderstood this young artist not for his concept, but for his lack of execution.

Maybe next year the spoiled brat will want to put a cinder block wall and call it art.

"art's purpose is to make you think, react, or evoke emotion"

Art can be done in to make people think, react AND evoke emotion WITHOUT trampling on the public's right to be able to access and use public facilities.

What part of public do you so-called art defenders not understand? Public spaces should be closed ONLY when the public safety might be jeopardized, such as when repairs being made, improvements are being done, or other temporary situations.

Further, only those sections that might cause public safety issues should be closed, and for the minimal time necessary to properly make the repairs, improvements, etc.

The excuse "[t]he fence was to protect installation of other art created by other MICA students' is fallacious. If that was the case, then the fence should have been installed ONLY where necessary to protect the public while the other 'art' (if it can be called that) was installed, and ONLY for as long as needed for that other 'art' to be installed. Most of Mt. Vernon park is open space, thus no need to fence it in. Also, the installation of the other 'art' could have been done one section at a time, not all in four quadrants at once.

"• On Saturday, March 29th, the separation of the gold chain link frame around Mount Vernon Place was dismantled as Jonathon Taube brought his Baltimore Sweep Action Parade into the center! As planned, it was a great OPENING of the temporary Beyond the Compass, Beyond the Square exhibition in Mount Vernon Place. Please enjoy.

• Early Thursday morning several panels were found laying in the flower bed on the north side of the east square of Mount Vernon Place. Because the panels were potentially damaging to the park itself, I was asked to take down the entire fence surrounding the east square. In keeping with the symmetry of Mount Vernon Place, a decision was made to also dismantle the west quadrant. In both of these squares the fence panels were stacked in secure and symmetrical piles. These sections stand "free" in relation to the north and south, where a gold chain-link fence still stands. As Mount Vernon Place is divided yet again, please take this as an opportunity to experience and consider another change in the physical space of the park. "

What more can it do