Tuesday's StoryDue to being early for my appointment with Lucas County Commissioner Ben Konop my interview went from a short 20 minutes to 40 minutes. The interview has been broken down into two posts for dramatic flair.
- Part 1 - Presents the gestation of Ben's love for art
- Part 2 - Will be posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007. Specifically Art Assist.
- Part 3 - Will be posted Tuesday, October 3, 2007. Ben Konop's 'hunger' for a career in politics, and is Ben Konop in charge of the Mayor of Toledo?
Part 1 of 3
Lucas County Commissioner - Ben Konop
For the love of Art
On the Jackson Street entrance to One Government Center stands the 16 foot sculpture, Revitalization of Man, by George Tsutakawa. As slow foot traffic moved towards the entrance of the building I slowed my gait giving me a chance to "stop and smell the roses" before my interview with Ben Konop, Lucas County Commissioner.With a pure sun, no cloud in the sky, a pleasantly warm end of summer day, I was taken in by Revitalization of Man. Water cascaded through the sculpture falling onto the granite base where smaller gurgling fountains worked in unison creating a waterfall of sound's for the ears. The engaging patina, silver, and rust stained fusion of colors reflected from the aqua pool below against the bronze sculpture. This engagement, these emotions, this is what art is all about. A good start and I haven't even asked a question yet!
Before I was led to Ben Konop's office I had a few moments to review notes in the waiting area. What struck me is how much art there was in this government office. The variety of art, including the 4 x 8 plywood-sheet size of some of the larger pieces. There was art everywhere. Paintings on the walls, some paintings waiting against the wall underneath their position to be hung... no matter where you looked there was art. I wasn't looking at a wall of portraits of ex-commissioners. This was art that was vibrant and exciting!
From previous phone calls, I recognized the smooth, smiling voice calling my name. Gabrielle Seay, Executive Assistant to Ben Konop, led me to his office that was adorned with more fantastic art. Maybe next time I will have a chance to discuss the artwork in his office, but for now, for what I knew, I had 20 minutes and it was go time!
Ben Konop has shown himself to be huge fan of the arts community in Toledo and and the arts in general. Through his project Art Assist he has been able to take his love for art and apply it . At Emory University in Atlanta he studied history. While at Emory he traveled to England to study History and Literature at Oxford University. In the culture rich Ann Arbor he received his law degree from the University of Michigan. Add his university experience along with growing up in a house where he described his mother's love for her art, respectfully calling her tastes 'eclectic'.
Where did his love of art come from? All of the above... and then some! Growing up in the Konop home there was an awareness, a respect, and importance of art. With a family appreciation for art, Ben grew up spending time at the Toledo Art Museum. Around the house there was lots of blown glass by Leon Applebaum who is the first cousin of his father Alan. Ben considers his mom, Barbara, as an art collector of sorts, in the sense that she simply loves art. He went on to describe fondly his mothers trips to art fairs with his father, including with a healthy smile and a chuckle when he said, "she makes the decisions... she makes the purchases".
Salvador Dali has been a long time favorite of Ben. His admiration apparent, "Dali reminds me of mid - 1960's Bob Dylan songs and that's my all time favorite". Some of his favorite tracks from Bob Dylan are Tangled up in Blue and Desolation Row which remind Ben of the "surreal" quality in Dali's work. According to Ben music and artwork "plays together in the arts". His next statement made an important point about the arts whether your a connoisseur or a fan of art, no matter the medium, "...part of it [art] is being able to identify with it. Obviously, something in your life that's puts it [art] in perspective or gives you a framework for analyzing something in your life". Ben explained art in its purest form. It is why each of us have favorite songs, favorite images, and also favorite artwork.
I asked Ben about his favorite artwork at the Toledo Art Museum. Van Gogh's Wheat Fields with Reaper, Monet's Water Lilies, including the recent Andy Warhol exhibit were just a few he described. He admits to being a fan of art, but does not consider himself an expert in the field. He spoke confidently when he said, "I do think I have researched enough to realize there is a connection between encouraging the arts, having a vibrant art scene, and then the economic development that follows in job creation". Ahhh... for the love of politicians!
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Part 2 of 3 of my interview with Ben Konop, Lucas County Commissioner will be posted on Wednesday, September 26, 2007 where we disucss Art Assist, specifically.
Part 3 or 3 will be posted Tuesday, October 3, 2007. Ben Konop discusses his 'hunger' for a career in politics, and is he in charge of the Mayor of Toledo?
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1 comments:
It is so great to hear that a politician actually has an interest in the arts. We're going to lose the next generation of great artists if we don't do more to support the arts! Ben Konop is to be commended.
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