I like the 1% art rule for municipal projects.
Art is about personal interpretation, not about 'hating' and liking'. Why does everyone have to like municipal art, all the time, anyways? There was a time when everyone hated the Peace Bridge, and now it's a staple for within Calgary`s identity.
Hell, at the Sydney Opera House, the architect was run out of the country and never allowed back because people hated it so much. Now it's one of the most famous buildings in the world for all the right reasons.
People may hate the blue circle art piece (I'm not a fan of it), but hey - the alternative - doing without a program that deepens our cultural establishment and identity - is much, much less appealing.
One last thing, I like the international artists getting a chance to get these projects. I want the best ideas selected; not necessarily local ones. Although, locals are welcome to submit.
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