…is that it’s very sticky. Once it’s there it has to stay there. So what’s the issue for the citizens of Canberra in relation to this next round of highway artefacts? Simple. That whoever makes the choice knows something about art. NOT the bunch of poets and architects who’ve exercised their taste so far. What are we to do? Let’s compose some letters to the CM which might have some useful political effect – so that we can all enjoy the experience of driving home… And then let’s hope we get something that a Jeffrey Smart wants to paint!
Here’s the letter I’m going to write – I encourage readers to do the same… (If you do, feel free to post it in comments)
The Hon. Jon Stanhope, MLA.
Chief Minister, Legislative Assembly, Canberra, ACT
stanhope@act.gov.au
Dear Mr Stanhope
I am writing in regard to your announcement in the Canberra Times (16th May, 2009) in relation to the decision to commission three gateway sculptures for the highways into Canberra.
The decisions your Government will make will affect the image of Canberra in perpetuity. It follows that the aesthetic decisions we make must stand the test of time, and be the result of the highest level of expert decision-making that it is possible to engage. These sculptures will become the badge by which Canberra is recognised. See, for instance, The Melbourne Gateway. I would like to make the following three observations which may assist you in making these crucial decisions.
1. I do not believe that those entrusted with the recent round of decision-making in relation to public art commissions have the appropriate background or expertise to make these crucial decisions.
2. I suggest you appoint an advisory committee of (say) three persons which draws on the significant pool of visual arts expertise present in Canberra and interstate. Curators with the specific expertise and a track record in the area of sculpture could be drawn, for instance, from the NGA, CMAG, or the AGNSW. These should be people with a wide knowledge of public art elsewhere in Australia and internationally.
3. You are correct in suggesting that the process of commissioning a work of art does not best proceed by applying the same criteria and processes as for (say) a rest stop, or a playground. Works of art, or proposals for the same, should proceed by invitation, adequate payment for concept drawings, and a commissioning process which does not cripple the project by including the costs of landscaping and other amenities, and the costs dealing with the multiple government agencies which result from the commissioning process.
I wish you well in arriving at an appropriate process, and an outcome of which we can all be proud.
Your sincerely
My name
8 responses so far ↓
1 najib // May 17, 2009 at 12:24 pm
do you have any idea who made the kitsch ‘public sculpture’ (with the red mushroom-like-dome) at the corner of Marcus Clarke Street and Edinburgh Avenue?
2 Nigel // May 17, 2009 at 2:00 pm
No, send us a photo?
3 Clive Murray-White // May 17, 2009 at 3:29 pm
This sounds a bit like, a 3 for the price of one deal to me. (the Major $1.2M Canberra Artwork split 3 ways)
With my recent experience with ACT public art procurement I can’t ignore the opportunity to put my bob’s worth in. I was both a finalist in the Major Canberra Artwork fiasco and the National Portrait Gallery invited me to submit a design for their main sculpture commission.
In stark contrast to the artsACT run project the NPA’s process was well designed, fair and paid participants an almost reasonable amount for the work they were asked to do.
My advice to any artist who is either invited to submit a design or applies to an advertised artsACT public art project is to make very sure that they really know what they could be letting themselves in for.
There are a few areas to watch out for:
• The commissioning body must have control over the proposed site?
Ridiculous as it may sound the ACT government appears not to have had sufficient control of the City Hill area to safely advertise their $1.2M Major Artwork project!
• They must stick rigidly to their own guidelines as published in the brief.
• That any form of “Scope Creep” be avoided, this is when it is mandatory for competitors to undertake enormous amounts of work usually way beyond the scope of the duties in the various competition stages. Of course the tenderers/competitors don’t get paid. This was out of control in the Northbourne Ave – City Hill project. The Canberra Times worked it out that my cost of entering the competition was around $180,000.
If I was writing to the CM I’d want assurances that none of the above could happen in any new project. stanhope@act.gov.au
4 Wazza gets the tower – but no surprises there… « glass central canberra // May 20, 2009 at 9:32 pm
[...] speaking of public art in the ACT, check out the Gateway debacle on ArtWranglers. Perhaps it’s time to start sharpening your quills, my [...]
5 Nigel // May 21, 2009 at 6:11 pm
And the reply from the CM:
Dear Mr Lendon,
Thank you for your email of 17 May 2009 regarding the process for commissioning artwork in the ACT.
I appreciate your bringing your views and suggestions to my attention. I have forwarded your comments to artsACT within my Department for detailed consideration of the issues you have raised.
Once again, thank you for writing to me and your interest in public art.
Yours sincerely
Jon Stanhope MLA
Chief Minister
6 Trevar // May 23, 2009 at 10:17 am
Impressive that you got a response at all! Unfortunately, I interpret this to mean that your insightful and very balanced comments will sit on some government staffer’s desk (probably that awful David Whitney bloke) in a pile with anyone else’s suggestions, while he’s off in a meeting approving whoever he j0lly well likes, giving no thought at all to the future of Canberra.
Good on you for making such a balanced argument and putting it so well. I hope I’m wrong.
7 Clive Murray-White // May 25, 2009 at 6:57 pm
Being really cynical – Nigel, your letter, note, etc has probably gone into the “proof of public consultation” file, neither Whitney nor Stanhope return my e-mails, well that’s not quite correct Whitney’s say Stanhope will reply but nothing after weeks of waiting.
But I’m not trying to make helpful suggestions, my comments would probably fall into the artist’s rights, morals and ethics category, not half as easy to deal with as a benign suggestions.
all the best all – Clive
8 Gateway to Canberra | iconophilia // May 30, 2009 at 6:35 pm
[...] flat-packed Paper version. And the maquette is already here in the NGA! So if the Chief Minister now advocates a direct approach to commissions, Jon, please don’t hold [...]
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