Kiosk as Art: NO!

            A creative and welcome idea to lessen the impact of panhandling downtown shouldn’t be sidelined as it has been.

            This plan is to install a giving kiosk is as an alternative to donating to panhandlers. It will be completely privately financed. It won’t cost taxpayers a penny and should relieve the popularly perceived image of beggars harming the aura of
Chapel Hill’s public shopping area.

             An anonymous donor has offered to pay the $17,000 construction cost of building and installing this small sidewalk structure downtown. As tried and used elsewhere in similar circumstances, it offers people the option to contribute to designated charities instead of enabling panhandlers.            The Chapel Hill Town Council recently considered this proposal, seemed to like it, and commissioned a local artist to submit a design. The resulting design by Callie Warner shows a securely- built rectangular structure, simply roofed and with slots for contributions. It is purely a functional kiosk, both in design and appearance.

             As all too often happens when something is caught in the maw of bureaucracy, the kiosk idea has been shoved aside ‘til it can be considered as art, rather than as a functional structure. It now awaits a decision — yet-to-be considered or approved – as to whether it is art instead of a simple structure for its intended purpose. Until then there’ll be no giving kiosk and no donation of it or to it.

           This isn’t a case of defining art. This simply-conceived kiosk structure is not art in appearance nor purpose. It may help resolve a long-standing problem of public perception. Such a kiosk has a history of doing so elsewhere.

             We in this early 21^st century call ourselves a civilized and enlightened society, but we complicate our lives unmercifully. This is a prime instance of it.

             Let’s get on with the obvious solution, build the giving kiosk and see if it meets its purpose.