Defense Department's $600,000 Fairy Sculpture?

Defense Department's $600,000 Fairy Sculpture

Department of Defense (DOD) employees moving into a new building this fall may start their days walking past a sculpture of a toad with a ten-foot fairy on its back. Federal facilities have never been renowned for their challenging public art, but critics have gone on the offensive since it was revealed that the piece, one of four finalists for the site's installation, would cost about $600,000 and would be viewed largely by the same group of about 2,500 employees each day.

It's hard out there for a public artwork. Usually, the story is about political censorship, like when Governor Paul LePage (R-Maine) ordered the removal of a pro-union mural at the state's Department of Labor. But just as troubling as the corporate art lobby is the government's see-no-evil attitude toward public art that doesn't offend anyone.

It's not really about the fairy riding the toad; it's about officials' unwillingness to scrutinize their commissions. Because the arts' effects are often immeasurable, the government has no frame of reference for how much artistic projects are actually worth. Administrators may be oblivious to overspending, even if the public has no trouble calling a toad a toad.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/0 ... 44054.html


Wow, they can't afford hot lunch programs for seniors; or funds for NPR; or funds for Planned Parenthood.... But they CAN afford $600,000 for a sculpture of a fairy riding a toad....

Got it....

When they want to get serious about budget-cutting, let's start with the friggin' Department of Defense.... Wow, cut the price of one unnecessary jet-engine, or one unnecessary bomber, and I wonder how many kids we could send to college?

I do not know the specifics here, but many times there are city laws in place that X percent of a new building cost must be spent on art. The bottom line being that they must spend 600K on art.

When you find that requirement, let us know.

I was attempting to be informative. Whether it be the excesses of the DOD or the burden of governmental regulation (requiring art), this is still an example of government wasteful spending.

Seems to me the ugly looking thing should not be the question. I am wondering why there is a new building when I would be willing to bet there is plenty of empty buildings that they could have used.

Like the new construction that is currently taking place for the Colorado Justice Center?

A bunch of fairy's.

Not sure how this got by the "super intellects" of this board but the reason is as obvious as the wart on your nose. This just symbolizes the fact that the DOD is now pro fairy. Don't you read the news.

Hey, that was MY take on it too...

You all don't know the REAL story. The toad and the fairy both have eye lasers to protect the front of the building from a terrorist attack, $600,000 is a bargain.