Since I'm a Denver artist, I feel it is my duty to weigh in on the infamous "Blue Mustang" at the airport.
First, I will admit that I don't believe art needs to be pretty. Or inspiring. Or . . . well, I don't believe that art needs to be anything. And I find it somewhat demeaning to a culture to insist that its public art "needs" to be a certain way if it uses public funds. There's far too much boring art out there that has wasted my public funds on milquetoast expressions. I am glad we have a controversy.
Second: aren't horse's knees a little strange?
Third, I think that the fear of the so-called "evil" horse of DIA is due to misunderstanding. I don't think the horse is evil. I think that's a significant word that should be reserved for truly evil ideas. I might suggest, for example, that the statue of Kit Carson in Pioneer square near the capitol could be considered evil, as it memorializes a person who did participate in evil deeds.
In fact, I believe that the Blue Mustang actually is there to ward off evil. That is to say, it's a gargoyle.
Gargoyles are old. Ancient Egyptians and Greeks put them on their buildings, and the form flourished in the Gothic style of architecture.
Technically speaking, the Blue Mustang would be a "Chimera," and not a gargoyle, since it doesn't divert water, but the concept is the same. It's supposed to be fearsome. It needs to be threatening. It's very function is so when evil shows up, it sees the job is filled and goes somewhere else. Where else would you want evil to be scared off than at an airport? Especially in this day and age?
So the next time you drive past those bright red eyes that become more radiant as you pass in line with them, thank that Mustang for keeping things safe at your airport.
