| PUBLIC
SCULPTURE OPINION POLL |
| Procedure for Polling the
Public |
| The method used to collect responses from the public
about Josh Garber's sculpture was simple and inexpensive to execute. It could
be readily applied to any number of other situations where it might be desirable
to solicit public opinions from passersby in a casual, anonymous, and non-confrontational
manner. One might use this technique to learn more about public attitudes
toward new construction projects, gentrification, public art, the removal
or destruction of a local landmark, political events or news stories that
directly affect a certain community, proposed laws, police actions, and
gang activity.
To collect public opinions Temporary Services made 4 clipboards - 3 were used around the sculpture and one was kept at home on reserve as a back-up. The clip boards were the standard variety available from office supply stores for about $1.00 each. We then drilled two holes into the back of the board, into which we slid self-locking plastic ties. These ties are available in various lengths from a good hardware store. They are identical to the kind used by the police in lieu of handcuffs during mass-arrests and they are very sturdy. If the type you buy is not long enough to wrap around a wide pole, they can be interlocked together for greater length. To collect responses we photocopied a form that uses half of an 8 1/2 X 11 sheet of paper. We stacked the forms and stapled them along the top to hold all of them together. We then used double-stick tape to secure them to the clipboard. It is also a good idea to staple the forms to a stiff cardboard-backing to give more writing support. Provide either a ballpoint pen or pencil for people to write with
because in the event of rain, both will not run. Both are also very Below the forms we attached 3 scanned color images of the sculpture. We covered them in clear plastic packing tape to guard against rain. Though we placed the clipboards in front of or directly across the street from the sculpture, we wanted to be absolutely certain that people's responses were about the sculpture. You should check up on the clip boards on a daily basis - possibly
twice a day - to restock pens and forms, and to collect responses. Try
not to be surprised or put off by vandalism or inappropriate responses. This
is a natural part of working publicly. We were in fact very pleasantly surprised
that it took an entire month before all three clipboards were stolen or removed.
During much of this time, aside from stolen pens and the occasional missing
stack of forms, no serious vandalism ever occurred. In other cases, this
good fortune might be the exception rather than the rule. We have since learned
of several people who wrote responses that were taken by someone else before
we could retrieve them. For this reason it is particularly important to maintain
the clipboards and collect completed forms as frequently as possible.
Images |