The Twentynine Palms City Council rejected—at least for now— paying $10,800 for another Ricardo Breceda sculpture along National Park Drive. Council members said they were “sculptured-out” by the concentration of art in that area. Reporter Dan Stork stepped out of his role as media observer and addressed the council in opposition to that opinion. Here’s what he said, and then some, which we are presenting as Dan’s editorial opinion…
Speaking as a traveler, when we drove across country, we stopped specifically at Skokie, Illinois; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and Loveland, Colorado, because we knew those cities had concentrations of public sculpture. I understand that you think it would be nice for the city’s residents to have artwork scattered about the community. But earlier this evening, you discussed and approved the activities of a city marketing specialist. If you are serious about drawing visitors to the city, it would be better to concentrate public art in a single location.
That’s what I said in public at the Twentynine Palms City Council meeting. I don’t question the commitment of Council members Klink, Mintz, and Wright to the well-being and prosperity of the residents of Twentynine Palms. (I can say the same about members Heiser and Cole, but they were not present, and didn’t address the issue.) But I do regard their perspective on the value of public art in regard to economic development—which is a component of the well-being of the City—as short-sighted.
That’s my opinion. I’m Morongo Basin booster Dan Stork.
