Art is subjective.

What one person describes as the “the most beautiful painting they have ever seen,” might be described by another person as “the most ugly painting they have ever seen.”

Neither person would be incorrect in their assessment, despite their widely different takes on the same piece of artwork. That is because beauty, as they say, is in the eye of the beholder.

We all have different views on what we like, from clothes to music to cars and movies.

This is certainly true of the city-owned Richard Hunt sculpture “Hybrid Form II,” which used to rest on the southeast side of the Main Street Bridge before the sculpture was removed to make way for a project to replace the bridge last year.

It remains in storage today.

The aesthetic appeal of the sculpture is open to interpretation. While many appreciate its modern design, others have called it downright unattractive.

Is it ugly or is it beautiful?

That is open for debate.

What is not open for debate is its importance to the city.

Hunt is considered to be an internationally-recognized artist whose sculptures appear in collections around the world, including in Paris and at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Hybrid Form II, which was donated to the city 40 years ago, is estimated to be worth some $300,000. The city is lucky to have it.

There is no doubt that placing the sculpture in a place of prominence would help a recent effort by the Niles Art Commission to turn Niles into a destination for art tourism.

Hunt himself recommended that the sculpture be placed on the northeast side of the bridge, just in front of the Front Street parking lot near the rain garden. While it doesn’t have to go there, we think it should be placed somewhere that it can be seen and appreciated (or hated depending on your opinion).

There is no point in hiding something so valuable to the city. Let everyone see it and debate its worth. Isn’t that what art is about after all?

 

Opinions expressed are those of the editorial board consisting of Publisher Michael Caldwell and editors Ambrosia Neldon, Craig Haupert, Ted Yoakum and Scott Novak.