Re: Olds council votes to buy seven rock sculptures
The subject of public art is always controversial — the Big O in Calgary being a good example of a large amount misspent taxpayer money, promoted by “experts” as being of immense artistic and emotional value, but recognized by most people as just plain ugly, impossible to view unless you’re racing by on the street below, just a light standard with a flyway for migrating birds.
Maybe we should build wind mills that way? Even mayor Nenshi shook his head.
Forgive me for thinking Olds town council is falling into the same trap. We’re trying to build a women’s shelter, expand palliative care, not to mention the economic stresses many residents are experiencing and they want to blow almost a hundred grand on a bunch of corporate logos and junior high school handicrafts.
Then there is a question of who really owns them, who actually owns them: Burke or the creators? That’s an important question with today’s intellectual property laws being what they are.
International makes me think of French wines — doesn’t necessarily make them good, definitely no Michelangelos or Rodins in this group.
Art of any quality might make people think and divert them from their daily cares, but a hundred grand can go a long ways to solve their daily problems instead.
Hans C. Ullmann,
Olds
