Bishop David gave the keynote address of the Study Day at St Paul's Harlow on the value of public art.

Bishop David gave the keynote address of the Study Day at St Paul's Harlow on the value of public art.
The first example of Public Art in the Bible is the bronze snake of the book of Numbers. Moses said, Look at it and live. A good inspiration for any public artist.
The bronze snake prefigured the death of Christ on the Cross.
The symbol of the Cross is probably the most used symbol around the world.
Why Public Art? Some opening suggestions as to why it is really important for all.
1 it helps provide an identity, a rallying point.
2 It raises aspiration.
3 It lifts our eyes beyond the humdrum of daily life.
In our own time there is no better example than the Angel of the North, which has raised the aspiration of the north-east.
Andrew Motion's poem 'What if?' at Sheffield station reproduced in huge writing is another example. And Banksy teaches us that there is no distinction between high and low art - just good and bad art.
Public art is especially important now. So many of our communities are dominated by multi-national global images e.g. KFC, Costas etc. Theses are overtaking our communities so that the individual identities of our communities are being crowded out.
What makes human beings distinct?
1 Hunan beings need to be inspired, a vision beyond little old me
2 The need to belong to and aspire to something different.
3 There is that in is that nerds beauty
4 We need contemplation.
The arts point to God, the essence of beauty.