These last few class periods about the process of gentrification keeps making me think about this whale in the Ninth and Ninth neighborhood of Salt Lake City, Utah. Gentrification, as a tool for investors (be it the city, private or public entities), seeks to revitalize a specific space (Fraser, 2004; Whitson, 2017). Yet in that revitalization, the pre-existing identities of that specific space can become erased as a new meaning becomes the focal point. I also see gentrification as this method of “fixing” spaces that are somehow deemed in-need-of-fixing. By constructing a space as in-need-of-fixing, there becomes this need for someone or something to address it and place their meaning on top of the already established meaning. I also was curious to understand what happens when an individual within that specific space seeks to work through the process of gentrification. This brings me to the whale! 
The Ninth and Ninth neighborhood in Salt Lake City is seen as the “quirky” neighborhood (Means & Jayswal, 2022). The city itself refers to the neighborhood as “one of its best kept secrets” (slc.gov). Our discussions about gentrification had me thinking about how citizens of specific communities engage with that process of gentrification happening right before them. The whale was met with immediate hatred, people complaining about how can a whale reflect the culture or identity of the neighborhood. INnresponse, the council behind the approval of the whale articulate that every few years, the whale will be repainted to reflect the neighborhood’s culture. Before the whale was placed in, a counter-protest (maybe counter-gentrification?) involved gnomes as citizens saw gnomes as more encapsulating the identity of the community. However, the whale still stands today, now with a church following (The Church of the Sacred Whale of Ninth-and-Ninth).
While a very minor instance of gentrification, I think the whale showcases a great example of that process. The neighborhood council saw something lacking in the neighborhood and commissioned an artist. The artist, a local of the neighborhood, created a breaching whale. The community is immediately confused and distraught about why the whale, who is it for, what does the whale symbolize for themselves. I do think the neighborhood did a good job of asking something within the community to create something. But I think it would be helpful for cities to continue to gain insight for their communities before create spatial changes that can create long-lasting impacts.
Hi Jeremy! I love the perspective you took on asking a community what it means to them before doing something like adding a giant whale sculpture in the middle of town. It may be positive and about them, but if it doesn't do anything for them or mean anything to them, it's just a giant whale.
ReplyDeleteI also like the wording you used in your description of places that "need fixing." When a place needs fixing, there needs to be a fixer. This ties into larger ideas of individuals doing things for their own benefit and to feel good, rather than actually helping. Similar to a savior complex, gentrification is when the way a community is existing is determined to be problematic and in need of saving by an outsider.
This was a very interesting blog post because it shed light on community beautification projects that are not done in the best interest of the community or with the input and opinions of the community guiding the project. Even something as seemingly positive as an art installation can have negative affects on a community and lead to gentrification because the community was not involved in the project and does not feel represented. This blog post does a great job of highlighting less noticeable or less directly malicious instances where the "bottom up" method for urban planning is not used.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a funny and interesting post that frames the possible ideals behind gentrification in a creative way. While people in this specific instance were not displaced, a community space was still altered in a way that was meant to be positive, but was ultimately unrepresentative of the citizens’ communal identity. The causes of gentrification are not always done with negative intent, but it is important to ensure that everyone in the community will benefit.
ReplyDeleteI also liked your phrasing of gentrification as a method of “fixing” spaces. The people in charge of planning will often look at a certain part of a community and deem it to be in need of fixing, and will do so without considering the impact on the people in the community. While this whale was a minor change, the people in the community should have been asked if they wanted a whale or something else (gnome).
I like your use of a unique example following gentrification and incorporating ways of accurately representing a community. Through gentrification, many people are pushed out or not represented equally within their community. I like your use of the term "fixing" spaces that typically don't need fixed or in a more appropriate manner. Unfortunately, the installment of the whale did not incorporate the community's ideas or opinions. The use of more "bottom-up" methods is important to continue to plan towards the community's actual needs and wants. While the council did commission a local artist as a way of beautifying a space, the choice of a whale and gnomes to represent a community is interesting. I agree with your statement that cities should continue to gain insight from their community. Perhaps something that is more useful to the community or more accurately represents them can be incorporated so that there is no confusion or dislike.
ReplyDeleteWhale what an interesting read about artistic gentrification. At least that is what immediately came to mind after I read this post. It's as though the board or city counsel in charge of curating the creation of the monument gave the artist too much artistic license or are not at all engaged with their constituents. Either way, I am left wondering how long these gnomes lasted in the area or what the city council would do if a community member or organization chose to vandalize it. This also makes me thinks about the readings on resistance we reviewed toward the end of the semester in tandem with my own interests in graffiti writing and street art.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting marker to put in the middle of a neighborhood! I think you make a great point when you say that the communities themselves should be included in new projects and "revitalization". Really odd how this whale doesnt serve a direct purpose or hold direct meaning for those in the area, which makes sense why so many are confused. I also like where you say that in order for a fixing-up project to be done, an area must be deemed "in need-of-fixing", and raises the issue of why an area is being raised as needing fixed, who is the power deciding an area needs fixed and deciding how to fix it, and how does the community feel in regards to their spaces.
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