Ann Arbor.com's commenters not big fans of pricely "public art"

Apparently many of these philistines would rather have decently maintained streets, smooth sidewalks, fully-manned firehouses and more cops. Go figure? What yokels. If times weren't so bad economy-wise  and if taxes weren't so high and the local elites weren't so goddam tone-deaf this wouldn't matter as much. In my opinion even an improving local economy isn't gonna convince a big chunk of the A2 tax-doners that the $750K water sculpture imported from Germany was a good use of tax money. Ann Arbor.com editorial board please note.

Committee chosen "PUBLIC ART" versus old stuff people like: How it works in the People's Republic of Ann Arbor

In the cosmopolitan and sophisticated People's Republic of Ann Arbor a committee of art connoisseurs appointed by our betters picks and chooses the city's official public art. The most famous selection by the Art Commissars is the $750,000 sculpture for the city hall building.  Described as a bronze girder with water flowing over it  this piece is currently being installed. This is a good example of  government funded public art. Many of the uncouth proles who still inhabit the PRAA have mocking dubbed this work of Public Art "Heiftje's Folly" after our mayor or "The Urinal" presumably because the flowing water aspect of it resembles one.

For comparison consider the fate of a historic sign from the doo-wop era (i.e., 1950's) that graced the Beer Depot at William & Main for going on six decades that blew down last spring. The city has denied a permit to reinstall that bit of uniquely Ann Arbor public art. Go figure?

Now go figure which of the two items mentioned above most people would consider historic, beautiful, and uniquely Ann Arbor? One would cost right around $10K of private money (Beer Depot) to repair and reinstall or the one that cost an eye-popping $750K of taxpayer money (The City Hall Urinal)?

The outcome here is stoopid, expensive and undemocratic without a doubt. However it's also daily life in the People's Republic of Ann Arbor with its tone deaf and hermetically sealed political system that has metastasized  over the years too. 

$750,000 public art sculpture erected in Ann Arbor. Reaction predictable.

The much bally-hooed $750K "public art" sculpture is being erected in front of the new city hall/courthouse build as I write. The public reaction as gauged in the comments section of Ann Arbor.com is about as would be expected. One commenter guessed that if you edit out the hostile Ypsilanti and neighboring township resident's comments the actual city residents and taxpayers (i.e., those who actually paid for this thing) would be around 50/50 pro and con. Somehow I doubt that.

Public art is a great idea that preserves history and adds character to any city. But it has to be good art that is relevant and expressive of the character of the people, place, and time. People go to Europe to tour London, Paris, Rome and the rest to view their great and historic public art. Me, I wouldn't walk the eight blocks it would take it view this thing. (Might ride my bike though.) This monstrosity, imported from Germany no less, is just an over-priced and esthetically weak series metal beams. I'd rather have a life-sized statue of the late Shakey Jake in Liberty Square Park made from old beer and soda cans donated by local residents and rendered by an Ann Arbor based artist. Now that would be meaningful, unique to Ann Arbor (just like Jake was), and people would make it a point to go see it. I know I would. But our Public Art Committee knows better I guess.
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Some public art that Ann Arbor can afford

Here's a picture of some public art that Ann Arbor can actually afford to build and install quickly. Natural looking too. (A public art related article from the Ann Arbor Chronicle here.)

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