Fenced out in Mount Vernon
In the name of art -- specifically, a 22-year-old MICA student's class project -- Mount Vernon Place has been surrounded with a gold chain link fence that prohibits public access to the park, and will until March 29.
It's inconvenient -- if not unsightly -- for residents, subtracts one more place from the list where homeless people can hang out, and, worst of all, leaves Mount Vernon's dogs with no place to go, in both meanings of the word.
Here's what I saw yesterday on my way home from work: A man and his boxer approach the park. The dog walks right up to the fence, stares at it, then turns his head back to his master. Master then looks at the dog and shrugs. They walk away.
(Sun Photo by Algerina Perna)
The art project, according to those behind it, is supposed to make the public appreciate the park more by denying it access for two weeks.
The fence was erected by artist Lee Freeman (shown above), a senior at the Maryland Institute College of Art, and it's the first phase of Beyond the Compass, Beyond the Square, an outdoor exhibition collaboration between MICA and the Walters Art Museum. More alleged art -- I'm no expert, but Sun art critic Glen McNatt wasn't too impressed with phase one -- will be placed inside the fence, then the fence will come down March 29, while the exhibit will remain until late May.
Meanwhile, dog owners will continue scratching their heads and searching about for some grass -- a rare commodity in paved-over downtown Baltimore.
I'd like to cordially invite Mount Vernon dog owners to Federal Hill Park and Riverside Park, where Ace and I hang out, during the interim. I offer you full use of the facilities.
Closer to home, Tom Berger, owner of the Pretentious Pooch, the doggie boutique on Cathedral Street, offered three alternatives for Mount Vernonites: Seton Hill Park on the 600 block of North Paca Street, the grassy strip across from Mercy Hospital on St. Paul Street, and the grassy area between the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall and the train station. The latter, Berger points out, is owned by MICA.
There's also a small grassy area in front of the Baltimore Sun building on Calvert Street, but you didn't hear that here.
If you'd like to leave a comment on what you think of the Mount Vernon Place fence, feel free to drop it here.
Comments
I would like to thank Tom Berger, who I see regularly when I'm out with my pup, for recommending those other areas. While I chose to reserve my comments about the fence I do understand that it is temporary and in all reality my dog and I could use the extra block or two added to our daily walks!
I hope that my neighbors will be equally understanding and learn to adjust their morning constitutionals to accomodate the constitutional rights of some students who will open the fences in another week and a half.
-A Mt. Vernon Resident
Posted by: Resident | March 19, 2008 8:44 PM
Or might I suggest letting your dogs squat on the steps of the Walters and MICA. I'm sure they won't mind considering how they've inconvenienced the residents and taxpayers with this ridiculous, ill-conceived stunt.
Posted by: Drew | March 19, 2008 10:08 PM
The John Eager Howard Park on Howard Street is right at the corner of Howard and Center Street in Mount Vernon. Perhaps it might be time for the people of Mount Vernon to show the same love and consideration for that park as they do for Mount Vernon Place.
Posted by: Fred Furney | March 21, 2008 2:24 PM