Fenced In

Watching the Gold Fence controversy unfold in Mount Vernon—in the days prior to the launch of this site—it was frustrating to see the parameters of the conversation remain so narrow. I understand the dogwalkers and bench sitters were inconvenienced, dismayed, and outraged. I got that within hours of the fences’ installation. And I also understand that much of the public questioned the planning and the validity of the artwork itself. Fine. But I was dismayed that more of an effort wasn’t made to examine what itall might mean.

After all, Gold Fences have been going up around Baltimore for years, as developers snap up parcels of land—some of them beloved by the general public—and the community often feels helpless to stop it. This sort of land grabbing/fencing can spark public outrage, as Baltimoreans grow weary of watching wrong-headed projects proceed over their objections. Of course, it isn’t usually public land, but this sort of thing happens all the time.

No matter how you feel about their artistic merit, LeeFreeman’s Fences tapped into such issues—from the helplessness and anger feltby those outside the fences to a profound lack of urban green space. But wewere too busy shouting at the student artist to elevate the conversation in anysubstantive fashion. It was a missed opportunity.