If you squint your eyes a little bit, it kind of looks like a Trojan Horse
I will admit, I was skeptical when the organizers of this project said they would raise all the money privately (I still am a little).
The project is being funded by private donors, with a goal of $1.25 Million. Schiller says they are at $1.17 Million right now.
It’s not that I don’t think the money is here in our community, it’s just that taxpayers have been down this road before. I have pressured Sculpture Walk organizers over the years to become more independent, they have been listening. There is also the logistics of the project. Talking to engineers and others in the art world who have been around large sculpture projects before I have a couple of concerns.
1. Since the large structure does not connect in the middle, there could be issues with it’s weight when it comes to high winds and counter balance.
2. The quartzite that has to be drilled through in order to create that counter balance could become very costly.
I have put city officials on notice that if any trouble arises and we the taxpayers have to chip in, that they proceed with caution. Think Trojan horse. While this is a great gift to the city, remember since it is sitting on city property, we have a great responsibility to maintain it. Where will that money come from? The sky? It would be like your dying uncle giving you his classic Ferrari.
We took a gift from Mr. Fawick back in the early 70’s and the city has been reluctant many times to keep him around, even throwing David in a storage lot for several years because they didn’t have the money to put him back up. I would be curious what the city is budgeting each year for maintenance of such a large piece of public art?
I also take issue with this statement;
Supporters have high hopes this new, massive piece of artwork will bring more than just tourists to the downtown area.
“The new awareness will truly advance economic development, workforce development in so many ways for so many years,” said Schiller.
Um . . . how will it do that? Sure it will promote more tourism to downtown, but we already have a great tourist attraction downtown, and it’s not Minerva’s or the Statue of David (Though he is my favorite DT).
When I watch press conferences like this, I often shake my head when our city leaders make ridiculous statements like this.
But at the end of day, I do Thank You . . . kind of.