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Originally Posted by SebC
While Cloud Gate is way more expensive that the Bowfort Towers, Charging Bull is on the same order of magnitude. I would not consider it accurate that we "can't afford world-class public art", even though you might not consider Charging Bull world-class. Art doesn't have to be expensive to be great.... Save |
While a relatively small "Charging Bull" statue (approx. $750,000 US in today's dollars) is very popular with tourists and residents now, it actually was NOT a public art commission. It was made on sculptor's own risk and installed unsolicited. The public liked it so much, it forced the Manhattan officials to install it on Wall Street! I have zero doubts, if officially commissioned by the City of New York, it would have costed a lot more money even in those dark days after the 1987 stock market collapse. And, yes, I agree, the $23M "Cloud Gate" is beautifully made and placed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SebC
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I don't know whether you're saying our public art program stems from an inferiority complex or just this piece? If the latter, why do you think the motivations for this one would be any different from the motivations behind the more successful pieces?
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I've tried to make this point a few times already. Our overarching motivation to make the city more beautiful is natural and supportable. But our politicians on both ends of the fiscal meter, fear to trust the people that elected them with making even the most innocent and harmless decisions, such as selecting significant public decoration pieces (I just can't make myself calling it art, as I don't think it is; but that's totally irrelevant for this discussion. It doesn't matter, what you call it). They worry that by letting public select a more likeable piece (e.g., a charging bull), they'd make Calgary appear less progressive and forward-thinking to the world (which in reality doesn't care about it at all). So, they appoint committees of "experts" (Madeleine King - an art expert, seriously???), then they create silly, unreasonable mandates and regulations for those committees, practically encouraging them to make choices like Bowfort and blue ring and then, after the public outcry, they say: "oh, well, it was the Board's decision, it was within regulations, our hands were tied" and all that other BS they say.
It is that process that I really loathe the most.