I often hear remarks about how Columbus needs something big and radical and iconic to “get us on the map”. And while I think landmarks are cool, I have to stop and ask myself, is this something we really NEED? Will our city ultimately benefit more from a one-of-a-kind bridge instead of…let’s say… a new recycling program? Would a mountain bring more new residents to our town than a reformed public school system? Does building something big and new always trump improving something old and trusted?
My answer is no. I think many times trying out new ideas end up falling short of expectations (Ameriflora, Waterfire on the Mile) and investing too much time and energy into those types of failed ventures end up leaving the public with a bad taste in their mouth for city efficiency.
Instead, we need to take some things that we already have (Comfest, Gallery Hop, and every little small event being held throughout the year) and take them to the next level.
We need to take what we already have and improve it. The seeds were planted a long time ago, and all they need is watering. There’s no need to ignore that existing crop and try to plant new seeds at this point in time.
I’d not advocating we close our minds of to new ideas. But when a new idea comes along, the first thing we need to do is stop to see if someone else is already doing it on a smaller scale, and if so, how that project can be nurtured into something that will benefit our city and put us on the map for small things.
Not everyone moves to a new city on the same set of criteria, so our appeal needs to be as universal as possible. We should focus more on improving where we need to improve, fix the problems that we have, and push ourselves in the areas where we already excel.
mountains and landmarks are not events. they need no intense or ongoing planning that results in ultimately, ephemera.
there’s a huge cement troll under one of the bridges in a neighborhood in Seattle. someone made it. and someone that lived there told me about it and took me to it. and now I’m telling you about it. Sure, it took planning, but i went at 3:30 on a Friday afternoon. there was no event planned for such a time. but the work was still there calling attention to itself and the city.
have you seen the cement corn in Dublin? I think it’s just like that. Now why that doesn’t work harder to bring people there, I don’t know. I’ve always thought those things were awesome.
My point wasn’t to discount the importance of landmarks… I was talking more in terms of scope and how it can apply to anything, whether it’s an object or event or something else.
We don’t need one big thing.
We need a million small things.
The troll/corn is a perfect example. I find your story to be much more fascinating than if you were to just tell me you took a photo of the Space Needle.
Columbus Does Not Need a Mountain = Metaphor
This is the exact sentiment that fuels the idea and intention of Columbus as the Indie Art Capital of the world.
Columbus is great. There are tons of fascinating things, ideas, destinations, people, and on and on and on. The time is now for an idea and actions to unify and demonstrate our greatness.