After reading about the proposed acquisition of a pre-owned sculpture by the city of Fort Worth from the city of Chicago, I'm left scratching my head and wondering where the money is coming from and what the decision makers are thinking. (See: "Art that would 'put a smile on your face'," Monday)
With the reported fiscal issues of our city's budget deficits and the cut in public funding for Fort Worth arts programs, I'm wondering how we can be smiling about spending an estimated $60,000 to move and reinstall a work of art that another city no longer has a use for.Although Tabachin Ribbon is fun and big and yellow, it is anything but responsible or supportive of the local arts or artists or a fiscally responsible decision. I doubt the local arts community is going to feel all warm and cozy about this decision unless they are hypnotized by the idea of real art from a real artist from a real city like Chicago.The work is surplus, so we are getting it at a bargain if it has a donation value of $150,000. Maybe so, but it is $60,000 for transportation, construction, storage and installation that I'm assuming we don't reasonably have if other programs are having to absorb support cuts.And, although the original artist, Yvonne Domenge, is of Mexican descent, she is not from Fort Worth or nearby, nor does she live in Texas. If she did, I wouldn't be all fussed up. This work reflects nothing about Fort Worth or its artistic heritage or creative and contemporary community.I'm not suggesting that all public art must be locally created by local artists, but in these economic times I'm thinking there could be alternative options. Why not commission a Fort Worth public artist or artist collaborative to create a contemporary work that is relevant as well as supportive of the community and its creative spirit? I'm sure there is someone out there who could create something vibrant and contemporary and worthy of the proposed City Hall Plaza placement and doesn't include a longhorn, windmill, horse with rider or oil derrick.I'm constantly amazed at some of the creative choices that are made regarding our cultural and artistic diversity. We argue for months about a statue with a pistol and threaten to sue the local artist, but we consider throwing tens of thousands of dollars at a work when neither the artist nor resulting art work has any connection to the city. It shows little consideration or support for the vibrant and underused creative potential right here. We have three of the nation's best art museums, curated by some of the leading arts authorities in the country, all within blocks of one another, but we are inclined to go elsewhere to get good art. This is akin to buying a fancy art bauble from another public art program because we don't consider, recognize or trust what might be available in our own region.Just because someone offers you a free piece of art doesn't mean you are obligated to accept it and then pay all the related costs. And certainly not at the expense of other public arts programs or individuals who might be able to do something wonderful right in our own backyard.Marshall K. Harris is a practicing professional artist and teacher in Fort Worth.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
