TV and Public Art: A Repetitive Mantra

As a new item, I will add video from various sources on public art and public space. The first is a 100% repetitive report from the local FOX evening news in Tampa, Florida. If you have seen one, you have seen them all. The story starts with the "CONTROVERSY" at the public building.
1. Government spends too much on art
2. Something is strange about the artwork
3. Interview someone that likes it
4. Interview someone that thinks it's a waste of tax payers dollars.
5. Interview someone from government that says it's a response to the community by a very talented artist
6. Repeat the cost. Repeat the cost.
7. Fade out with "local politicians want to examine reducing or eliminating the excessive amount of money on art"

In this video, the artist Audrey Flack is presented as a professional.

Below is the text story from FOX. This link is to the full FOX video.

TAMPA - Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but it looks a little different when it's paid for with tax dollars.

Just ask some angry Hillsborough County citizens. They're upset about a controversial new statue in front of the Tampa's Edgecomb Courthouse.

'Lady Justice' is 15 feet high, weighing 3,000 pounds--and it cost $400,000 to build.

She's just been put up in front of the courthouse, and she's already got people talking.

"I think it's a great piece of art," said Deputy Ricardo Alves of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. "It reminds me of the Statue of Liberty almost."

The brand-new statue is green bronze with real gold leaf. She's blindfolded--to show blind justice.

The artist who created her says she's supposed to soothe the people going to court.

"People are going to come to the courthouse probably in deep angst," said Audrey Flack, who is responsible for the creation. "You know, 'Am I going to get put in jail? Am I going to lose my house?' People are going to talk to this, I believe."

But some disagree. In fact, some people are irate over what 'Lady Justice' cost the county.

"I'm a taxpayer so I think they could have used that money more wisely-- on the schools, on roads, on anything other than a statue," said David Finch, a resident of Hillsborough County.

County taxes and court fees paid for the statue, and it is to date the most expensive piece of public art the county has ever purchased.

"It is expensive, but on the other hand, great art is expensive," said Bill Iverson, Hillsborough County's public art manager.

Administrators say they had no choice about how much to spend. A county law says one percent of the total cost of a public project like the Edgecomb Courthouse must go to public art.

The county's public art commission chose Flack as the artist, and they say they're glad the statue I generating conversation--and controversy.

"We consider ourselves a museum without walls," said Iverson. "A place where people can come experience great art without having to pay an admission fee."

Flack says she believes 'Lady Justice' will bring life and money back to downtown Tampa.

"Look, would you go traveling to an industrial city, or would you go to Florence? You're going go to Florence to see Michelangelo's David," she said.

County commissioners have already asked a team to work on changes to the current ordinance that puts money toward public art. They want to reduce the amount of funding that must accompany public construction.