Public Art
[ Excerpt from SBN-P article of September 13, 2006 by Vladimir Kogan: ]
City staff to ask for review of public art
Faced with growing anger from several prominent citizens, Santa Barbara city staff have indicated that they will ask the County Arts Commission to review the public art pieces currently displayed on State Street.
In particular, much of the controversy has surrounded a sculpture by local artist Colin Gray, called "W," which appears to depict an upside-down McDonald's sign pierced by arrows. The piece has been met with fierce opposition from a family that owns several McDonald's franchises, though Mr. Gray insists it was never intended to offend.
"This has never happened before," the commission's executive director, Ginny Brush, told the City Council on Tuesday, when several council members asked about the possibility of having an advisory committee in charge of the art display take another look at the pieces.
Their inquiry was prompted by public input from several local leaders, including Santa Barbara Region Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Steve Cushman, all asking for Mr. Gray's work to be taken down or moved...
However, the idea that the city would get involved in screening artwork irked [some]... council members, including Helene Schneider and Das Williams.
"Does this council want to take the position of approving individual works of art before they go up?" Ms. Schneider asked. "That's where this is going."
At the end, the council could not take formal action on the issue because it was not on its agenda, though city staffers indicated that they would ask the arts commission to review the sculptures.
http://www.sbartscommission.org/public.html
City staff to ask for review of public art
Faced with growing anger from several prominent citizens, Santa Barbara city staff have indicated that they will ask the County Arts Commission to review the public art pieces currently displayed on State Street.
In particular, much of the controversy has surrounded a sculpture by local artist Colin Gray, called "W," which appears to depict an upside-down McDonald's sign pierced by arrows. The piece has been met with fierce opposition from a family that owns several McDonald's franchises, though Mr. Gray insists it was never intended to offend.
"This has never happened before," the commission's executive director, Ginny Brush, told the City Council on Tuesday, when several council members asked about the possibility of having an advisory committee in charge of the art display take another look at the pieces.
Their inquiry was prompted by public input from several local leaders, including Santa Barbara Region Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Steve Cushman, all asking for Mr. Gray's work to be taken down or moved...
However, the idea that the city would get involved in screening artwork irked [some]... council members, including Helene Schneider and Das Williams.
"Does this council want to take the position of approving individual works of art before they go up?" Ms. Schneider asked. "That's where this is going."
At the end, the council could not take formal action on the issue because it was not on its agenda, though city staffers indicated that they would ask the arts commission to review the sculptures.
http://www.sbartscommission.org/public.html
Posted by Malcolm on
9/13/2006
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