Maggie's Response to Judy Baar Topinka
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By Bonnie Gibbons in General Published: Wednesday, 15 August 07 - 05:46 PM (GMT) |
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On August 3, Judy Baar Topinka published the following in the Chicago Tribune:
Yes, the "Spindle" did put Berwyn into the movie "Wayne's World." But no other community is bucking to be in something as spoof-oriented and goofy as that film. You don't see Hinsdale or Bolingbrook or Riverside seeking something like the "Spindle" to get notoriety. No community of standing wants to be known for having something better placed in a used-car lot.
Yes, tourists come with cameras and pose in front of the stack of deteriorating cars. These photos are probably sent to homes around the world. And what is the message? That Berwyn prides itself on having a pile of junk cars as its claim to fame. How disrespectful of all that is good and worthy in Berwyn to shout about.
Ouch. Leaving aside the fact that other communities (including, ironically, Bolingbrook, HAVE expressed interest in offering sanctuary to the Spindle... Judy is entitled to her opinion, as are all the other Spindle detractors. It's annoying, though, that she treats the supposed eyesoreness of the Spindle as a self-evident fact, and takes the further step of deciding that ugly=bad. There are those who view the art of Dustin Shuler as (yes) credible art and the smugness of the anti-Spindle crowd ignores that.
I'll save my culture war screed for some other post and let Maggie speak for us:
Is the Spindle beautiful or ugly? Boring or controversial? "Art" or "junk"? Is it just a bunch of cars on a metal pole or is it a commentary on our disposable culture or autos needing to go the way of the dodo as more and more people embrace a "greener" way of living? Is it a strange tourist attraction that just looks cool?
Perhaps it is all of these things.
We believe that nearly 20 years have changed some perceptions of Berwyn since David Bermant thrust his ideas about modern art onto its citizens. Yes, there are some longtime residents who feel the Spindle us a jab at the residents.
But talk to some of the newcomers -- young adults and families, artists, musicians, professionals (IT, legal and medical) -- moving into our beautiful, historic bungalows from Lakeview and other areas to make Berwyn an exciting and vibrant community. This is a different Berwyn than it was 25 years ago. With them comes a new attitude about the town and about the Spindle
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