The Olympian
Olympia's new $35.6 million City Hall would like to add 10 bronze sculptures which is meant to represent speaking bubbles like those used in comic strips. The "bubbles" which then about 2 feet tall would cost $180,000.
The city requires that 1% of the cost of major construction projects be dedicated for public art. For the new City Hall, the city has to spend $255,000 on art.
art is nice... so would a swimming pool in my backyard. But none of my budget is going to go for either one of these items.
Although this is a news item for Washington state, I thought it was just another example of how government priorities seem to be out of place.
I realize that we do not wish to make our city look like a "Borg ship" from Star Trek, I mean pretty is nice... but how many people could $200,000 hire,
or road repair, etc.?
however, if the city is forced to spend 1% on art, then at least that art should be functional.
1 comment:
Now if we could only find an artist that could figure out how to artfully fill potholes. Maybe a mosaic or a bronze casting.
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