Mark Smith Olympics commission

The Olympics 2008 commissioned art from DC-based artist Mark Smith. I met him a couple months ago at a dinner party and was really impressed with his views about art, which happen to echo my own! See below for a snippet from his artist statement.

[T]he artist believes that artwork has a primary function to ennoble the public. In order to create an awareness and appreciation of the Arts, Art must be connected to and integrated into our daily lives and must find applications that engenders understanding and implants the desire to have the Arts as a permanent partner in the everyday experience of our lives.