Comments on: Educating the Public about Public Art

By: johnboy

johnboy — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 11:03:04 +0000

The public does not need to be educated! It is the Public Art Commission that needs an education. They need to be smart enough to spell R-E-C-E-S-S-I-O-N and know what it means when applied to the expenditure of public funds.

By: Janet Osborn

Janet Osborn — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 15:04:48 +0000

Public Art is important for many reasons, and I am happy that Ann Arbor has in place funding and a mechanism for getting art into public places. However, I agree with nearly everything Marvin Face said above.

This is an opportunity to use a public forum and public funds to both enhance a public space AND to generate interest in Michigan artists. I simply believe that we could find Michigan artists to come up with a plan which challenges Dreiseitl’s artistic vision and technical expertise.

Why spend $72 K for a proposal from one European artist, when we have not even looked more locally? Having a time crunch is not a good reason! I would rather the money NOT be spent on this project at this location than spend it quickly and foolishly.

By: Marvin Face

Marvin Face — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 19:59:04 +0000

It doesn’t sound like there was a “loop” to be included in. It sounds like someone decided over lunch that Dreiseitl should be hired to do this. Done.

To be clear, Dreiseitl is less an “artist” than someone who makes storm water interesting. There are very few like him. But given a clear request for proposals, any environmental artist could come up with the same artistic treatment of water and could perhaps do it better.

I agree that his selection seems forced through and I think some people involved want “a Dreiseitl” here in Ann Arbor more than anything else. I think the process should have been (still should be?) opened up for proposals.

I am all for public art and spending the money, but perhaps there is someone out there who, given the chance, could make their career on a project like this rather than have everyone around here just jumping on the Dreiseitl bandwagon.

By: Alan Goldsmith

Alan Goldsmith — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:49:13 +0000

“the need to communicate better with the public and to educate them about the value of public art in Ann Arbor.”

I don’t think this has to do with commuications. $700K is going to an artist with no Michigan ties and I don’t understand because I need to be educated about the value of public art? No, the point here is why was this decided without public input and why weren’t Michigan based artists included in the loop? THAT is the issue.

No, the public ISN’T with you.