Althouse: "Due to budget constraints, the Berkeley Animal Shelter did not make the 1.5% of its eligible budget available for Public Art."

August 23, 2013

"Due to budget constraints, the Berkeley Animal Shelter did not make the 1.5% of its eligible budget available for Public Art."

"Many Berkeley residents had expressed to staff and to the Civic Arts Commissioners their disappointment that there would be no public art in the new facility."

Here's my favorite comment over there: "We can live without more über-banal 'artistic flare' [sic] in this risible artistic backwater. I am sure there are plenty of other indefensible things they can waste our money on."

9 comments:

sykes.1 said...: In some states, the inclusion of public art is mandatory and not an option to the agency.; 8/23/13, 9:51 AM
Tom said...: Step back for a minute, and consider the argument between the folks who want cities to put up nativity scenes and those that see that activity as a infringement of rights. Then consider the people upset about the lack of public art in this gov't supported place - aren't they just as religious? Don't they believe in wastefulness in the pursuit of social justice because someone will always be willing to produce more? I'm more likely to believe in astrology than that sack of happy horse feathers.; 8/23/13, 11:27 AM
Sigivald said...: People who want more "public art" are welcome to purchase or produce and then donate it.

That works great. Always has.; 8/23/13, 11:56 AM
Sam L. said...: So, is "ART" more important than taking care of the animals? Which is their mandate, after all. Get grade-schoolers to come paint on the walls. For free.; 8/23/13, 12:07 PM
Smilin' Jack said...: "Many Berkeley residents had expressed to staff and to the Civic Arts Commissioners their disappointment that there would be no public art in the new facility."

This tragedy was entirely avoidable. For only
1% of their budget I would have been willing to send them a crucifix I had personally pissed on.; 8/23/13, 12:25 PM
Matt Sablan said...: Someone needs to do a parody of a man holding on to a piece of public art and saying: "I could have done more! This surrealistic impressionism could have saved three pit bulls! This statue? Fifty calicos!"; 8/23/13, 12:49 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: Why does a pound need art?; 8/23/13, 2:45 PM
TML said...: Hmmmm...knew "risible" but muffed "flair". Odd.; 8/23/13, 4:05 PM
TML said...: Freeman Hunt, where the hell else can corrupt muni governments "hide" crappy public art made by one of the council member's brother in law?; 8/23/13, 4:26 PM