Listening
Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
- gritty / ˈgrɪt i / (adj.) – showing something unpleasant or difficult in a real and honest way
Example:The movie shows the gritty reality of life in a poor neighborhood.
- degradation / ˌdɛg rəˈdeɪ ʃən / (n.) – the process of something becoming worse and losing its beauty
Example:Many people left the city because of its degradation, as shops closed and streets became unsafe.
- border / ˈbɔr dər / (v.) – to form a line along the edge of something
Example:The park is bordered by tall trees that provide shade in the summer.
- affluent / ˈæf lu ənt / (adj.) – having a lot of money and a good standard of living
Example:Mary grew up in an affluent neighborhood with large houses and expensive cars.
- turn (something) around / tɜrn əˈraʊnd / (phrasal v.) – to make something better or successful after it was doing badly
Example:The company was losing money, but the new CEO turned it around by cutting costs and improving sales.
Article
Read the text below.
James Delaney wants his public art in South Africa’s biggest city to be more than a magnet for selfies and a delight for children. He’s determined to have the vibrant metal sculptures change the mood of its gritty and sometimes dangerous neighborhoods.
Over the past decade, artist James Delaney has designed more than 100 sculptures for The Wilds Park in Johannesburg.
Authorities in Johannesburg have encouraged public art to improve safety and environmental conditions in the city of some 6 million people whose downtown has a reputation for crime and degradation.
The Wilds is in the midst of Johannesburg’s contrasts.
One side of the park is bordered by the tree-lined Killarney suburb and affluent Houghton, home to Nelson Mandela during the final years of his presidency as the country’s first Black leader.
The other side borders a transition into the bustling, sometimes broken-down areas of Berea and Yeoville.
“What I found at The Wilds that I spent a couple of years fixing the park and planting and weeding and restoring the infrastructure. We did a lot of work, and we couldn’t get people to go back, and then I had this idea of making laser-cut steel sculptures. First of a set of 67 owls, and then later on the kudu and the giraffe, and then all those big pieces. And it’s that which turned The Wilds around. Because those become draw cards and we live in an era now of the photograph. It’s all about the photo that you take. Particularly if you could be in the photograph and next to something which is a landmark and public art is a landmark,” explains Delaney.
“When you come upon a piece of art where you least expect it, it’s like magic. You immediately smile, and you wonder, you ask questions: how did this happen? What’s the story behind this? Who are the people who put this here?” says Johannesburg resident, Nadia Nicholaaspar.
“It makes you think, well, somebody or a group of people love this place enough to put this effort into it, so I’m going to love it too. I’m going to be a little bit more respectful.”
This article was provided by The Associated Press.
Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
- Do you think art can make a neighborhood feel safer? Why or why not? What are other ways that cities can improve public spaces and make people feel safer? What do you think is the purpose of public art (ex. decoration, sending a message to the public)? Discuss.
- Do you wish to see more public art in your city/town? Why or why not? How do you think surprises, like unexpected art, can improve people’s moods? Discuss.
Discussion B
- Nadia Nicholaaspar said that she’s going to be a little more respectful of the place because somebody or a group of people love it enough to put this effort into it. Do you agree that people take better care of places when they see that others have invested time and effort into them? Why or why not? What do you think would happen if more people felt the way Nadia does about their cities? Discuss.
- In your opinion, should governments spend money on public art, or are there more important things to focus on? Why? If your city decided to invest in public art, what kind of projects would you like to see? Discuss.
