I wish they’d stop obsessing about having an elegant and completely redesigned web site. If you’re spending a lot of time making computer-based presentations just for a meeting of 30 people, then put it on the web and don’t grieve about it not being pretty enough that other cities will admire it. If you’re spending time making computer-based presentations on the topic of other cities’ lovely Internet web sites about public art, then you need to rethink your priorities. Check how sites like the AnnArborChronicle.com are stimulating big, productive public discussions that just wouldn’t happen if the forum was an ephemeral physical meeting.

I’d prefer they back it off a few notches and do things where typical Ann Arbor people would say “that’s great,” or “I really like that,” or “that’s beautiful.” Without having to be TOLD how significant the piece of art is.

I’ve been in cities (and corporate headquarters, and museums, and sometimes malls) where that is the reaction. I want Ann Arbor to be one of those places.

I’ve also been in cities (etc) where the reaction is “I guess that’s a significant piece of art in somebody’s mind somewhere” or even “we just passed public art? Where? Wasn’t that just an architect’s self-indulgent ‘statement’?” The Dreiseitl project is, in my opinion, going to end up one of those.

I don’t think that “something that most townspeople like or appreciate” is inevitably the same as low-brow, but I think the committee believes so. What a waste.

Festifools is a creative community event. It inspires local creative people regardless of their name or credentials. It has grown every year since its inception. It involves people and brings them together. This is a prime example of how art can inspire and build community.

Putting a fountain, no matter how high minded, in front of a public building is about as creative as making oatmeal in a microwave. Once the Urinal is in place how many people will stop on Huron St and contemplate it? Or even fathom it’s message without written instructions?

Festifools has demonstrated the ability to inspire and bring people together. It’s an annual event that gets more publicity for Ann arbor every year. I bet that Festifools will be appreciated by more people than the Urinal ever could hope.

This is the difference between “art” and being an arts community.

We already have an inspirational source for how important water is to our community. It’s called the Allen Creek. Yet we keep it hidden in a pipe while we spend millions for yet another fountain in front of yet another government building.

I’d like to point out that the art on Fourth and Washington was paid for by private donations. It is also much more accessible than the current proposals.

The horse statue sounds lovely.