German artist's $750K sculpture finally installed in front of Ann Arbor's city hall
Construction workers oversee the installation of a $750,000 piece of public art in front of Ann Arbor's city hall this afternoon.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
Ann Arbor officials are inviting the public to a dedication ceremony next week as they officially commemorate the new art piece, which has been controversial since it first was proposed more than two years ago.
Artist Herbert Dreiseitl is expected to be on hand for the dedication ceremony, which starts at 7 p.m. Tuesday at 301 E. Huron St.
The sculpture was commissioned as part of the city’s development of the Ann Arbor Municipal Center, which includes the new Justice Center building and a newly renovated city hall.
Another look at the sculpture as it takes shape today.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
It's not yet functional, though, as work remains to be done in the coming days.
"We've installed the bronze, we're laying down the pre-cast runways, and that's our goal today is to get those laid down and get out of here and have one day of crane time," said Rick Russel, vice president of Future Group, the general contractor for the art installation.
What else remains to be done?
"All the bronze pieces have to be fit into the flow way," Russel said. "The connections have to be made for all the plumbing and the lighting. The mechanics have to go down below. Once that's done, the artist comes, tests it, programs it, and then we come in and put the final covers at the end."
Though controversy has surrounded the selection of a German artist to complete the project, the work is said to be locally inspired — planned by Quinn Evans Architects and InSite Design, both of Ann Arbor. Several Michigan-based contractors also worked on the project.
Future Group from Warren was the main fabricator. Lighting and water technology was subcontracted to CAE from Hamburg. The bronze material came from Clarkston Fine Arts Centre in Clarkston, and the casting was subcontracted to Wolverine Bronze in Warren.
"We're very thankful for this project," Russel said. "We're able to include a lot of our local guys building it, a lot of local manufacturers. We're definitely proud and grateful."
Dreiseitl, founder of Atelier Dreiseitl, is described as an internationally renowned sculptor, artist and interdisciplinary planner with three decades of experience. His design firm’s practice specializes in integrating art, urban hydrology, environmental engineering and landscape architecture within urban contexts.
A closer look at the bronze sculpture now installed in front of Ann Arbor's city hall.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
His other designs include parks in Portland, Seattle and Pittsburg. In 2003, he contributed to a water park and water recycling system in Hangzhou, China, and he has been working on an urban master plan for Tianjin, China, since 2003.
The unveiling of Dreiseitl's sculpture comes as an intense debate continues to surround the city's Percent For Art Program, which funds public art using a mix of mostly city millage and utility funds.
Under an ordinance approved by the City Council in 2007, 1 percent of the budget for all city capital projects — up to $250,000 per project — is set aside for public art.
The Dreiseitl project is tapping into the city's pooled public art fund, including $30,000 from the stormwater utility fund, $210,000 from the water utility fund, and $510,000 from the sewer utility fund. The idea is that it serves a purpose related to the source funds.
Below is a video shot at 2:30 p.m. today of a crane lifting pre-cast concrete slabs into place after the main bronze piece of the art installation was erected.
(This story has been revised to remove incorrect information regarding past work that Dreiseitl has done.)
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's e-mail newsletters.
Comments
K Thompson
Fri, Sep 30, 2011 : 1:30 p.m.
Like the art, sounds like a cool project. The price, a bit shocking when other services curtailed. The problem is that art can't be compared with other categories of expenses; it's not the same. It shouldn't be an either-or decision such as Food or Art, Jobs or Art, Food or Medicine, Food or Rent... The economy forces these things to fight each other, rather than create a climate for all of them. Worry more about the economic class warfare that creates the disparity of not enough jobs in the first place.
Christy King
Thu, Sep 29, 2011 : 1:32 p.m.
I have no words to properly articulate my level of dislike.
Blue
Thu, Sep 29, 2011 : 3:36 a.m.
Let this public "art" serve as a reminder to the Mayor and City Government of the jobs they lost.... When WE the Taxpayers vote them all out!
Barbara Clarke
Thu, Sep 29, 2011 : 12:40 a.m.
At this time, I do not believe the $750,000 spent on the art piece is justified in view of the earlier budget cuts. Wonder how city personnel who have been let go feel about this expenditure?
Cici
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 9:13 p.m.
THIS is a $750K sculpture???? OMGoodness. Michelangeo would turn over in his coffin at anything like this being called art, much less a real 'sculpture'. A sculpture of council members would be cheaper. I, for one, am actually embarrassed as an 'Ann Arborite'.
julieswhimsies
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 8:48 p.m.
The piece is not in its final form yet, people.
Cici
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 9:29 p.m.
Then why didn't they wait to publish a photo of the final form?? This however certainly shows where it is headed!
Stinky Weaseltooth
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 5:05 p.m.
Let me take a stab at this: It's good to know that the City Sewer fund is used on (actual) pieces of crap like this. (poo on poo action) Why are the LED lights on this thing blue? Is it so the Tidy Bowl man can find his way back home at night? (homecoming) Will the homeless put a giant Santa Hat on it during the holidays and sing "Mr Hankey the Christmas Poo"? (give back to the little people) Does it seem that the City is using this as a symbol to "flip off" those of you who complain about public art? (how ya like me now?) Is this a piece from a section of the demolished part of the Stadium bridge? (recycle)
James J. Gould
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 5:01 p.m.
How in the world could the city fathers be so stupid to waste that amount of money on such a ugly thing ? With all the money problems you have, it boggles my mind why you would do this.
KIKIPIE
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 4:32 p.m.
I guess we don't have any artists in Ann Arbor or Michigan. We like to send our money to Germany.
LA
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 4:25 p.m.
It is so much easier, and fun to tear down and criticize things, isn't it? I am so appalled at the comments regarding this sculpture. If it was up to people like these commenters we would all be living in dirt hovels and still refusing to accept the radical ideas of the wheel and fire. I'm surprised their ancestors didn't wash all the cave painting and petroglyphs off the walls. After all, those people could have been out hunting and gathering for the greater good like everyone else! How about the Sistine Chapel: why didn't the Pope use the money he spent on paint to feed the poor!! Even if there were private donors, there would be complaints in this town. OMG, why did the Medicis donate a million dollars for a sculpture? They could have used it to build low-income housing! I am so disappointed in this 'artistic and world class college town'.
LA
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 8:41 p.m.
Linda: since this is a site to vent, in your opinion, I don't understand why my comments lead you to think I am so unhappy with the city and should move. I am not the one who is trashing the art/public officials, etc. I think they are the ones who seem so very unhappy and truly do want to leave the city, if they could. I really love this city and think it is the best city in all of Michigan to live in. And BTW, you have no idea of my background, so please don't presume. You will be surprised and probably quite mistaken. I have been unemployed for 6 months, panicking over health insurance and have grown up in more dire poverty than most on this website. I am simply, as you say, "venting" my displeasure over such extreme and mean spirited comments towards a piece of art that isn't even assembled yet. There will always be other things we can do with our money and I do understand the questions regarding the lack of voter input etc. The community elected these people, and have the power choose others next time. I really do think my comments about the Pope and the Medicis are relevant to this argument. Personally, I think the new building is rather unattractive and hope the sculpture makes it look better.
linda thomson
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 4:43 p.m.
This is a forum for people to vent, that's all. $750,000 is a lot of money. U of M is not the only great thing about this town. Our residents don't all have your background. Please be more open minded and understand that there is more to Ann Arbor ( I was born and raised here), than being a world class college town. Most of the people that live here did not have the ability or the money to go to U of M. I did and I am also an artist and I don't agree with you but I respect your opinion and I am not dissapointed in you or others with your view. It sounds like you are very unhappy with us so maybe you should live somewhere else.
Robert Ziff
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 4:03 p.m.
Are we so narrow-minded that we can't allow some artwork to beautify our new city hall? According to the Feb 14, 2010 article in this newspaper, the building costs $47.4 million. Any public building like this involves many "unnecessary" decorative features including big windows, high quality interior and exterior surfaces, landscaping, etc., as well as artwork. It is just a feature of the whole building project, especially a "signature" project such as a City Hall. In fact, that article says that $1.7 million was shaved off the price of the building by eliminating fancy revolving doors, reducing the amount of terrazzo (polished stone and cement) flooring, etc. If the designers spent $1.7 million on those items, would anyone be complaining? Ann Arbor businesses make a great deal of money from visitors to our numerous outdoor events as well as football games, the farmers market, etc. Having another attractive and interesting place to walk around and explore is just another reason for people from surrounding areas to come here -- not to mention for residents to enjoy (or complain about, which is a form of enjoyment). By the way, although the artist is from Germany, the fabrication work was all evidently done here in Michigan. Again, are we so narrow-minded that we cannot have a world-renown designer from another country involved in our projects?
A Voice of Reason
Thu, Sep 29, 2011 : 3:09 a.m.
Nice try. I think you are no longer representing the people and just the employees. Business are leaving this city in droves and the university is purchasing all the buildings that are vacant, so asking business taxes to support a $47 million building is irresponsible. Shame on you!
linda thomson
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 4:30 p.m.
Are you serious?
buenaonda
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 3:48 p.m.
People are mostly uninformed of the entirety of this project. This is not a $750k chunk of metal sticking out of the ground. It is a $750k water-retention system designed in collaboration with Mr. Dreiseitl. People think that every penny spent went toward the aesthetic structure when, in fact, most of the project's funding went towards the City Hall's water retention system. The article's title is very misleading.
B2Pilot
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 3:48 p.m.
The purpose of art is to make you think and dream. hmmm i'm thinking someone made a mistake W T F!!
Ron Granger
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 3:21 p.m.
Is there a notch to attach a rope, in case the public votes to bring public hangings back?
Ron Granger
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 3:19 p.m.
I would have preferred a digital billboard that shows how much the council is spending on their government building, and on that stupid parking structure they're building for the University on our parkland.
Cici
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 9:26 p.m.
Yes, a billboard showing every dollar per minute as it adds up! Like the running national deficit....
thecompound
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 3:01 p.m.
I would have rather seen a statue of Jebediah Springfield than this monstrosity, lol.
REALtownie
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:59 p.m.
The "sculpture" is a wonderful complement to all those signs all over town that tell us where we are. Let's see ... how much did we pay for those things??
outdoor6709
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:49 p.m.
I'm not sure what the controversy is. I am planning my trip to see this " art". I have not had a good laugh in weeks. Vote the incumbents out.
linda thomson
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 4:28 p.m.
Amen!
Rose Garden
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:49 p.m.
This is beautiful and unique. I wish that either the artist were an American or that an American artist had been selected.
linda thomson
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 4:27 p.m.
I have a Bachelor's degree in Fine Art and I am a painter. I think the sculpture is interesting but I don't think it is beautiful. I do think selecting a German artist has really shown us where their priorities are. Are they vying for some kind of national or international publicity?
treetowntenor
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:42 p.m.
We could have bought twisted metal from Joplin, Missouri; at least our three-quarters-of-a-million dollars would have been put to good use.
vivian
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:38 p.m.
More proof (as if we needed it) that if silly people are willing to pay big bucks for bad art, we'll get a lot of bad art. After all, bad art is easy to produce. It's just too bad that this particular piece of bad art sucked up $750K that A2 could really have used for practical things--or even good art, if anyone on the City Council would know it if it bit 'em.
cook1888
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:37 p.m.
This was foisted on the taxpayers of AA without consent by the same people that continually squeal for more money. It is a wonder more people haven't joined the Tea Party movement. Vote them out!
David Wallner
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:34 p.m.
I would have voted for more public access to the building and less drama. Tell me again where I can park when I have a quick errand at City Hall? Oh sorry, there is no such thing as a quick errand because I have to alot time to run through the security system.
Rose Garden
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:54 p.m.
Run through security for your own safety and the safety of others.
hotpants
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:26 p.m.
wait, a piece of metal with a bunch of holes cost $750,000?? Couldn't we have just gone to the local scrap yard and found something similar--full of holes, twisted, and bent (which could be art since it's all subjective anyway) for much cheaper?
Bertha Venation
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:11 p.m.
I'd like to go to the dedication and picket it!
mojo
Thu, Sep 29, 2011 : 12:47 p.m.
where do you sign up!!
Bertha Venation
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:11 p.m.
Thank Goodness, we finally have a statue that will protect us and put out fires...... oh... wait.
nixon41
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 1:24 p.m.
What a waste of money, plus how much did it cost to install this PIECE of ART???????
andys
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 1:13 p.m.
City of Ann Arbor creates a pot ("bucket") of money through the Percent for Art Program (that voters had no direct say in passing) and then it has to be spent for that purpose. So our fine elected officials create buckets of money for their pet projects and then say the money can't be touched for basic services. So the City squanders money on art when safety services are being cut, "because it has to". That's how the game is played.
Angry Redneck
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 12:55 p.m.
This isn't the greatest piece of art, but if it were created by a local person, I'm confident that it would have been much weirder and overall less aesthetically pleasing(read: horrible). I'm happy it is installed, so now people will go back to complaining about the Stadium Bridge being closed for construction.
mojo
Thu, Sep 29, 2011 : 12:46 p.m.
I think this issue has legs - monumental costs, city is broke, and the result: a life long copy of a rusted beam.
Blue
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 12:48 p.m.
These comments overwhelmingly show how people feel about this - ridiculous! The city cries about money problems then spends almost a million dollars on this eyesore. An artist from Germany? Isn't the University of Michigan here? Isn't there an art school here? Why not an American artist?? We voted NO new city hall in the first place.......Why aren't people screaming that as voters we are and have been ignored!! Our taxes support this town - it is high time for a change in Ann Arbor government.
nixon41
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 1:31 p.m.
I agree. City Council should be put in jail for robbing the tax payers.
JSA
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 12:44 p.m.
This is a wonderful example of why there should be no funding of "art" by the taxpayer. People do not agree what art is. This was wasteful spending by a small group of elitists and funded by what will probably turn out to be an immoral if not illegal vote of the City Council. They ought to be ashamed of themselves. What a hunk of junk.
81wolverine
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 12:38 p.m.
It's very simple folks. If you don't like stupid and wasteful expenditures by the city like this one, don't keep voting the liberals onto the City Council, election after election.
Patti K Miller
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 12:26 p.m.
I thought Ann Arbor was supposed to be a liberal, art culture city who appreciates a diversity of opinions and projects? When the blue lights and water are installed, I think it will be an attractive addition to the city's milieu. Maybe it was too expensive, but it is definitely not junk. Widen your perspective.
Blue
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 12:55 p.m.
It's got nothing to do with perspective. Wake up!
Heady99
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 12:11 p.m.
Scrappers will have this in no time and then what?????? Buy another one????? Is this going to be insured??????? And what are the additional costs associated with this artwork - Electricity??? Water???? Maintenance???? @Ryan since you seem to have a direct line to the decision makers can you get these answers too?????
Ricardo Queso
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 12:08 p.m.
If it is that easy to "siphon" off 1% of the city budget for art, it should be just as easy to reduce the city's expenditures by 1% and return these monies back to their proper owners, the taxpayers.
newsboy
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : noon
Is it a phallic symbol?
A Voice of Reason
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 11:59 a.m.
I thought the construction company had left an old steel beam sticking out of the ground. Government sponsored art is telling people what is good. The citizens in this town should be outraged!
Mike
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 11:55 a.m.
This is a monument to what is wrong with government as is the new city hall, post offices, schools, etc. They only need to be functional buildings instead each one is designed like they are trying to win an award. I can tell you from personal experience that these types of designs are much more costly to build than a plain, functional building. That's one reason we are broke, our "representatives" are experts at wasting the taxpayers money. That seems to be the only thing they are experts at...........
Gorc
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 11:24 a.m.
I'm glad I live in Pittsfield Twp...I'll take Costco over art any day of week. Costco will be generating revenue for the township for many years to come. Priorities, Priorties, Priorties.
vivian
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 4:23 p.m.
Rose Garden, you're right about that. But many refined people would dismiss this work as slight, unimaginative, uninspiring, and unattractive. The latter is not an unimportant criterion for public art. We don't need to have our tax monies spent on works that lack broad appeal. I'm not a philistine, and I'm not saying that public art needs to be pretty-pretty. But it does need to speak to more than a small number of people with post-modernist sensibilities (or whatever blighted aesthetic this piece appeals to) , and the reaction we're seeing here suggests very strongly that this work doesn't.
Rose Garden
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:51 p.m.
Many refined people appreciate art.
Julie
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 11:17 a.m.
This a day after an article about the skakepark's attempt to raise money to build it......disgusting
william bond
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 10:56 a.m.
It doesn't look any worse than the fema trailer they call city hall....good place to film an episode of land of the lost..
Gill
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 4:12 a.m.
Maybe they could put driving directions on it. When on Huron in front of City Hall, go 2 blocks N on Division, turn left on Catherine, go South 1 block on N Fifth, turn left on Ann, find out there is no parking, and go around the block again. Why is City Hall only reachable from southbound N Fifth Ave? Not a very friendly location.
Sunshine26
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 4:01 a.m.
Local Government - Federal Government should not be spending tax dollars for fly by night expenditures. Example: Public Art - Solyndra
Sparty
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 3:24 a.m.
Anyone on the city council authorizing this, or failing to stop this massive expenditure should be voted out of office regardless of party. I hope there will be large numbers of quality candidates running for the positions this year!
Nerak
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 3:20 a.m.
Wow! It's beautiful! I can't wait to see it when it's fully installed. The plaza is shaping up to be a lovely urban spot.
grye
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 12:08 p.m.
Suggest you donate $750k to the city and claim it as your own.
Vivienne Armentrout
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 3:05 a.m.
I'm looking forward to seeing how it looks once fully installed and with both lights and water turned on. But the comments here show what a distance it now has to go to gain acceptance. I just finished a blog post <a href="http://localannarbor.wordpress.com/2011/09/27/taxes-for-art-iii/" rel='nofollow'>http://localannarbor.wordpress.com/2011/09/27/taxes-for-art-iii/</a> discussing public attitudes about this program and what it means in our perception of local government.
Vivienne Armentrout
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 4:23 p.m.
I wasn't intending to be persuasive. (Did you think I wrote it in support of the project?) Blogging is my way of studying a question. In that post I made the point that the Percent for Art program has caused a loss of faith in local government, and suggested that this might affect the vote for the upcoming street millage. I think most of the comments here support my thesis pretty well.
craigjjs
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 1:12 p.m.
Well, you completed a blog post. That's persuasive.
Chase Ingersoll
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:46 a.m.
Couldn't they have planted a tree?
mugwump
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:07 a.m.
OMG! What a piece of crap! And for 3/4 of a million dollars. The city council and mayor must think the taxpayers of Ann Arbor are fools. Perhaps most are because the citizens voted for them. IMO a sickening, shameful, and disgusting waste of public funds. Unbelievable.
Mark
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 1:57 a.m.
It sort of looks like City hall is giving us "the finger."
grye
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 12:07 p.m.
Maybe its supposed to be a phallic symbol to show us how stupid we are for voting the mayor and council into office.
the man
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 1:48 a.m.
The only thing that will make this better is when you've all done enough crying to turn the fountain on.
whatsupwithMI
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 1:01 a.m.
It's not like we should consider it as $750k. Due to (insert your blame game argument here) the $750k US dollars is enough to get the artiste a beer in his home country.
Mick52
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 12:59 a.m.
Flow ways, connections, plumbing, lighting, mechanics down below, programming. Sounds complicated. Hope it works. What if it doesn't work? Here is what gets me: "$30,000 from the stormwater utility fund, $210,000 from the water utility fund, and $510,000 from the sewer utility fund. The idea is that it serves a purpose related to the source funds." This serves a purpose related to those funds? I guess you have to be an artist to understand that one. I have been told more than once that if an "artist" creates something and deems it "art" it is "art" no matter how ridiculous it is. That holds true even if when you see such "art" you say, "what in blazes is that?" rather than, "how nice."
USRepublic
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 12:51 a.m.
Ann Arbor Loser's.... We should all be ashamed..... We got what we voted for....HieftjeHood and his band of Liberal Merrymen paying of the Germans in order to support a European form of socialism....in AA! When will real Ann Arborites rise up to the granola head beatnicks that have taken over our beloved town?
David Briegel
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:24 a.m.
You do know that Ann Arbor is a cozy little German community?
whatsupwithMI
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 12:41 a.m.
I am sure this looks GREAT from one of the unsold, wishful-1-million-dollar condos in downtown AA. What did the people you elect think they were doing? Who are the there for, really?
Ann E.
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 12:36 a.m.
These comments make me appreciate the courage and foresight it took for city leaders to bring this project to completion. The University brings artists, scholars, and students from all over the world to Ann Arbor and the town is richer for it. If anything, it creates more demand for local artists. The sculpture's location is close to the Hands on Museum and children will love it.
LA
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 4:08 p.m.
Good comment Ann. Thanks.
Lets Get Real
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:23 p.m.
Creat more demand for local artists? Then why didn't we select one of them for this art installation? And, oh by the way, what will you tell the children it is?
Dave
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 5:07 a.m.
Will the $750,000 investment repay itself? Under economic duress, we haven't the luxury to use such a large figure of taxpayer money on a project that only has indirect benefits, at best. Surely, we can soundly invest that money somewhere else that will have direct, clear benefits for our safety and/or economic well-being.
Charlie Brown's Ghost
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 12:54 a.m.
"The University brings artists, scholars, and students from all over the world to Ann Arbor " It would have been nice if they would have asked one of those artists to build something.
whatsupwithMI
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 12:41 a.m.
Which shop did you get your hit from? We'd like some.
Tru2Blu76
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 12:26 a.m.
Re: (photo) "A closer look at the bronze sculpture now installed..." I went to city hall after seeing the photos here and, I can tell you, I and the other lone observer there both think this sculpture looks MUCH better when seen in person than the AA.com photos show. When one is actually there, it's obvious there's a lot yet to be done before this work can be properly judged. Lets try to keep in mind: what's there now isn't really bad and is NOT actually the finished artwork. There will be flowing water and computer-controlled lights. Anyone seeing this installation today would know: it's less than half complete - there's lots of plywood, exposed wiring and plumbing and "raw dirt" all over the place. As a fairly advanced hobby photographer and member of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals, I understand the problem with these AA.com photos and know they cannot be (honestly) improved much. For one thing: these photos are too small to give the proper impression. The human eye is still better than the camera. In fact, up close, the entire facade of the building looks very appealing.
Dave
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 6:40 a.m.
Certainly, there is room in the subjective sense that at least a portion of the community will appreciate the aesthetics. But I think to many of us, the 'potential beauty' in the art project is eclipsed by its price tag, especially with consideration to the economic contexts, and its placement in front of City Hall.
James
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 5:51 a.m.
Thank You. You articulated a sentiment I expressed earlier, only better. I can understand if one doesn't want city funds spent this way, but the vitriol toward the work itself astonished me. The photos show but one component, judge it when its fully installed and operational. Peace.
David Briegel
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:21 a.m.
TruBlu, Another good post! But you are placing reality and facts in the way of all these artistic experts!
thinker
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 1:35 a.m.
What happens to the lovely flowing water in the winter? What happens to the computerized lights during the 16 or 18 hours of daytime? Who pays the electricity for these? WE DO, ANN ARBOR!
Kai Petainen
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 12:56 a.m.
cool. i gotta go check it out.
whatsupwithMI
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 12:43 a.m.
You can get a lot of local deliverance for $1 million (rounding up a little for final covering-of-plywood).
linda thomson
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 12:25 a.m.
So Ryan, why is it that all you are doing is defending this. Why not come up with a different plan knowing how unhappy Ann Arbor's residents are? Do we count? Does council care about how we feel or not? By the way, why did the entire $750,000 have to go into one sculpture in front of their building? Forget it, I'm sure there's some kind of ordinance that the zoning has to work with the design review board although the historic commission needs to approve that which the planning department disapproves which declares this building a historical site or something like that but the mayor has to raise his right hand while chewing gum all while not giving a crap what we think.
David Briegel
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:19 a.m.
Yes linda, you count one vote. Just like the rest of us. Rodney, you'll be deleted for mixing metaphors. "Let 'em eat cake" and "off with their heads" are all mixed up. lol
whatsupwithMI
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 12:46 a.m.
Ryan's just this blogger, you know?
MjC
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 12:16 a.m.
The sculpture actually fits in well with the ugliness of the new City Hall building. Makes complete sense to me now...
linda thomson
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 12:27 a.m.
That is the absolute funniest and most true thing anyone has said yet.
Ron Granger
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 11:56 p.m.
Cut it off and weld it on the front of a city truck. SNOW PLOW!
Ron Granger
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 3:10 p.m.
Ann Arbor... Where the streets are paved with gold, and plowed with bronze!
Lets Get Real
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:21 p.m.
I love your idea. What other city can boast a bronze snow plow?
whatsupwithMI
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 1:25 a.m.
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze" rel='nofollow'>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze</a> Bronze is too brittle to be a good snowplow, I think.
Ron Granger
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 11:55 p.m.
I support public art, but that thing is ghastly. That they burnt so much of the art fund on *city hall* is even worse. It is a monument to ego.
Froggomojo
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 11:54 p.m.
Clearly this article is based on wrong facts, as the sculpture itself costs less than a third of the mentioned amount, spent on the whole project. As it was manufactured in THE USA its creation supports the companies and workers who dealt with this sculpture. Mister Reporter, you should get your facts straight before you write an article!
Lets Get Real
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:21 p.m.
Manufactured is a kind term for this piece of "art". These jobs were hardly sustainable - once and done for this little ditty. The cost of the change orders, in the overall City Hall project, were icing for the contractors who got to stay on a few extra days to "deal with this sculpture", but I bet the four letter words were flying fast and furious and the jokes were less than kind from the crew.
RUKiddingMe
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 11:51 p.m.
For those pointing out that the Water Fund is one of the sources for this piece; you DO know they just RAISED our water rates, right? They just recently RAISED OUR WATER/SEWER RATES!! This is just one extremely tiny example of the horrific misuse of the money we trust the city to spend wisely. You all know about the train station they're building right next to the existing train station, right?
Lets Get Real
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:17 p.m.
My water bill doubled - and some of that money is going to support this? Vote people, Vote
lynel
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:09 a.m.
Raising our rates increases the $$ for art.
whatsupwithMI
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 12:47 a.m.
The one on the flood plain, you mean?
linda thomson
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 11:50 p.m.
I am responding for all of the Ann Arbor residents who CAN'T RESPOND because they DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO BUY A COMPUTER!!! What about all the families that can't afford good food to feed their kids? How many of our OWN residents could we help with $750,000. I wonder if City Council members and the Mayor have these problems. Do you here that Council??? Are you ready to answer those questions. Or are you so self-absorbed that you don't see what is so outrageous about this? ANSWER US!!!
David Briegel
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:11 a.m.
Be very happy that you are addressing that question to Democrats who are doing much as opposed to TeaPublicons who will tell them to eat cake!
alarictoo
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 11:38 p.m.
What the heck is that thing, anyway? A post-apocalyptic sun-dial?!?
Lets Get Real
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:16 p.m.
good one, alarictoo
David Briegel
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:09 a.m.
You obviously have a discerning eye. Can you see it completed?
FedUpinA2
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 10:49 p.m.
Another example of mismanagement in Ann Arbor City government. Allocate funds for a piece of "art", and do nothing to help sustain the infrastructure. Come on people, wake up, this mayor and council are running our town into the ground. I am ashamed to even tell anyone I'm from Ann Arbor.
Ricardo Queso
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 10:37 p.m.
How long before this thing is lifted and sold to some scrap dealer on Telegraph?
Carole
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 10:37 p.m.
Dumb, dumb, and dumber -- that's all I can say about a city who spends $750,00 for a piece of artwork while laying off firefighters and police officers, and we have a bridge that is about to collapse. What a shame!
Ryan J. Stanton
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 10:29 p.m.
Several commenters have referenced cuts to police and fire services. I'll point out that no general fund dollars, which pay for police and fire services, have gone to the city's public art program. As the story states, the Dreiseitl project is tapping into the city's pooled public art fund, including $30,000 from the stormwater utility fund, $210,000 from the water utility fund, and $510,000 from the sewer utility fund. So, this is city utility revenues at work. That said, debate about the proper use of those funds is still welcome here.
Lets Get Real
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:15 p.m.
Use of the aforemetnioned fund "buckets" for this "art" is a stretch - at best. Stormwater? Diverting it, I guess? Water? Anyone drinking from this thing? And sewer - oh yes - there's the link. This whole thing stinks. Just like my basement when the city sewer backs up into it.
grye
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 12:05 p.m.
Gee Ryan. Wasteful spending is wasteful spending, no matter what bucket of money was used to pay for this thing. You may be correct but that didn't make it right.
Dave
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 6:30 a.m.
When you look at the bigger picture, it doesn't matter which 'fund' it came from... It's $750,000 of taxpayer money. We *could* have spent it on more useful projects. [And to those who'd point out that bureaucratic code/law would prevent us from reallocating; then clearly we need to fix said code to prevent such misappropriations.]
Charlie Brown's Ghost
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 12:51 a.m.
No - the money came from the PEOPLE.
Stephen Landes
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 12:43 a.m.
@ Ryan -- I'm sorry, sir, but you are wrong. The funds came from city projects and were artificially set aside by Council action into a 1% for Art fund. You can claim this or that fund, but not the "general" fund all you want, but it is our tax money that has been misappropriated for this gigantic piece of garbage. No matter what fund paid for it it is still OUR TAX MONEY.
alarictoo
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 11:48 p.m.
Hadn't realized you were now the press secretary for city hall, Ryan. I thought you were supposed to be an objective journalist. And, while we're looking at it: * "$30,000 from the stormwater utility fund" - This would be the same stormwater utility fund that they re-calculated my non-permeable ground last year on by counting the shade from my house on the satellite image as "non-permeable", and kicked up my tax assessment. * "$210,000 from the water utility fund" - How nice. They bumped up our rates again to help pay for this ugly piece of junk. * "$510,000 from the sewer utility fund" - Even better. Ann Arbors sewer utility that needs a major overhaul to prevent heavy spring rains from pushing "gray water" into peoples basements. But they figured they could spare the money to buy this ugly piece of junk. Way to go Ann Arbor City Council! See you at the polls.
Kai Petainen
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 10:43 p.m.
I think a lot of people understand that it is from a different bucket. Even I understand that -- but, from a public relations standpoint... or a marketing standpoint... it might not be a wise idea to dip into the other buckets when there are hot issues going on. Wait for the hot issues to die down, and then dip into the other buckets. that being said... since this is dipping into the water fund -- then perhaps people should focus in on environmental issues -- like chromium, dioxane, or... gasp... i won't even say it. however, if i had to choose between public safety or environmental matters -- i'll choose public safety.
Carole
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 10:38 p.m.
The funds were still taken from other areas that need to be tended to. And, please don't continue to tell me that they can't rebudget funds from one bucket to another, because they already did setting up the "Art Funds" At the very least, they could have paid a "local" artist for a piece of art -- we have many fine artists in the area.
Major
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 10:23 p.m.
Ahh, now I get the moniker "Hurinal"! What a complete embarrassment! Yep, I'd say quite a few city council seats will be occupied with new face's next time around....one can hope anyway!
James
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 10:22 p.m.
If you don't want city funds allocated for Art, that's fine. But I can't see how you can criticize the artwork itself based on one photo of the initial installation. Its not nearly finished.
Major
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 10:26 p.m.
I don't care what the "art" looks like, it's the underlying issue at hand, huge amounts of OUR tax dollars spent on.........
Kai Petainen
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 10:04 p.m.
With regard to the comment about condemnation.... I believe most of the condemnation is not aimed at the artwork itself, nor the artist. He's probably a nice guy and doing his job as an artist. But, the condemnation is perhaps aimed toward the idea that $$$$ was spent on it, and public safety services were cut (or insert other complaint about city hall here). It's a condemnation of the perceived priority that was placed on a monument to waste/water management over other matters.
Stephen Landes
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 12:40 a.m.
No, we are condemning the phony art. I don't need to see more to know that this thing is bad.
Bob W
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 9:55 p.m.
I would have preferred a bronze statue of the mayor. :o)
Urban Sombrero
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 9:51 p.m.
$750K for THAT? Seriously? That is one ugly piece of garbage, there.
Urban Sombrero
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 11:35 a.m.
@David Briegel, was that supposed to be funny, or snarky? Aren't we all allowed our own opinions? Give me a break.
David Briegel
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:03 a.m.
You are? Why?
Urban Sombrero
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 11:16 p.m.
I have eyes. And, I'm allowed an opinion.
KJMClark
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 11:08 p.m.
It's under construction. Maybe you should wait until it's done before you say how it looks?
Bill
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 9:50 p.m.
The has to be the largest and most significant of the out of touch decisions by the mayor and city council. It's time to remove the ineffective mayor and council before they cause any further harm to Ann Arbor. Perhaps U of M will just buy up the remainder of the city and then the mayor and city council wouldn't be needed at all.
whatsupwithMI
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 12:50 a.m.
Could we keep our food karts if this occurs?
Major
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 10:27 p.m.
Probably the best idea I've heard yet!
bedrog
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 9:35 p.m.
Although I agree on the disconnect between the pricetag for this and the reality of crumbling infrastucture and shrinking police in an era of rising crime this piece couId in principle be quite attractive when it's up and running..... ...but given the social environment , and the evident rage its provoked it'll probably wind up as a graffiti easel ( at the hands of some other "public artists") or the site of a mugging ( or worse ) of a late night viewer.
John of Saline
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 9:33 p.m.
Bronze? It'll be stolen for scrap before you know it.
Lets Get Real
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:09 p.m.
Cash it in baby - can we get $750,000 for it?
Silly Sally
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 11:08 a.m.
THey don't have the police officers to stop them from doing so. They were fired so money could be spent on this...
tommy_t
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 9:44 p.m.
Hopefully, you are correct.
zax
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 9:30 p.m.
I am not angry yet. I am not surprised yet. I will not whine and complain yet. Until the next election, then if we vote in the same dumb administrators, then, I will be angry. This is a tragedy. This would not be considered right in any type of economy. Not in a university town where the university has a thriving art school and has boatloads of money to spend on it's buildings and renovations. The university could have provided art to the city it is thriving in tax-free. Maybe it would be a lot less ugly. Waiting for water and grass to make it look better? just use the water and grass then. I appreciate art. This is rusty metal that should find it's way to the recycle center.
KJMClark
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 11:07 p.m.
Um, we don't vote for "administrators". Council hires them. And there's no rusty metal, it's bronze.
sdenise
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 9:28 p.m.
Would those so quick to judge or condemn without seeing the artwork completed and with water moving through be so unkind to fellow citizens if they were on jury duty. Would you personally like to be judged by any of this noisy crowd of individuals who feel the safety in jumping on the bandwagon of abuse and hatred. These comments are without respect and thoughtful consideration. I have a feeling these people wouldn't even pay 50 cents for a Michangelo or a Rembrandt they have so little respect for art and artists and the process and display of public art.
thecompound
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 3:31 p.m.
Did they hurt your feelings Mrs. Hieftje, lol?
Lets Get Real
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:08 p.m.
Did you really say "Michangelo or a Rembrandt " in the same sentence with this piece of "public art"? You've got to be kidding.
andys
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 1:05 p.m.
City of Ann Arbor creates a pot ("bucket") of money through the Percent for Art Program (that voters had no direct say in passing) and then it has to be spent for that purpose. So our fine elected officials create buckets of money for their pet projects and then say the money can't be touched for basic services. So the City squanders money on art when safety services are being cut, "because it has to". That's how the game is played.
Julie
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 10:52 a.m.
I don't need to see the art to know that this was an inappropriate time to be spending this kind of money on something so frivolous.
a2girl
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 9:39 p.m.
You miss the point of many of the outraged. Ann Arbor is hardly without lovers of the arts and wealthy patrons eager to support projects like this. See my reply to Barbara Annis. I think there are an abundance of unemployed German and probably a few Chinese citizens. Perhaps we should employ them as police officers and school teachers.
mun
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 9:20 p.m.
$750,000 could have paid for how many police officers, how many fire fighters, how many school buses?
racerx
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 9:10 p.m.
Will Roger Fraser be here for the dedication? LOL!
WeiPing Teoh
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 9:08 p.m.
More like pubic art.
Kai Petainen
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 9:04 p.m.
Apart from all the obvious debate with this art... and I think it's good to have that debate... I'm curious to see if it is good art? As an artistic piece, do I like it? Or is it just a monument to waste/water management? It's certainly doing something already... it is provoking discussion and debate... and some artists view that as 'good'.
thinker
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 1:31 a.m.
We're not debating the piece as Art- we are debating the use of that amount of money to be used for ANY art, when so many more essential things need to be paid for...
cinnabar7071
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 9:01 p.m.
$750k doesnt go very far does it?
Lets Get Real
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:07 p.m.
You said it
Treelover
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 9 p.m.
Many are outraged by this, however who will take action by letting the elected officials know what a waste of money this is??? I bet few will remember this this on election day as well...
andys
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 1 p.m.
Go ahead and e-mail your city council person and see if you get a reply. They don't care, why should they when its the liberal voters of AA that will elect anything with a "D" next to its name.
David Briegel
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 1:58 a.m.
You have to live here to vote here!
golfer
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 9 p.m.
wow! wounder what 750k would buy. might not have to do the idle law and hire more people. maybe give some services back.
mojo
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8:56 p.m.
That is art? Wow I am angry.....
ypsipress
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8:53 p.m.
Just imagine the person committing the sexual assaults here in A2 walking by this thing telling himself "this is why I can't be caught, 750K for this masterpiece & less cops? " Come on maaaannnnn!
AA
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8:53 p.m.
Really, this makes me physically sick. We have lost our way. Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars. $ 750,000.00.
mojo
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 9:36 p.m.
And think what it will cost to remove.....
CobraII
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8:51 p.m.
Can I sell one like that too? I'll pay my taxes & shut-up!!!!!!
Elena
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8:50 p.m.
I live in Ann Arbor. I participate in the civic process and vote in elections. I don't ever recall being asked to vote for my tax dollars to purchase art for public land. Even if the majority of people (who showed up to vote) approved this ridiculous waste of money, how can our Mayor and City Council justify spending tax dollars on art when they are cutting our police officers, firefighters, and maintenance of our public parks that we all like to use? Many residents are having trouble making ends meet, living check to check, and instead of the City responding to the need, they spend Seven Hundred and Fifty THOUSAND ($750,000.00) Dollars on a sculpture for City Hall! How "out of touch". Why couldn't we have a competition from the artists' in Ann Arbor area? I really like the water tower...
Julie
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 10:48 a.m.
I don't think it was conservatives who just spent $750,000 on a sculpture in an economic recession.
David Briegel
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 1:56 a.m.
Don't worry, the conservatives are cutting all funding for our fellow citizens who are having trouble making ends meet.
Knick
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8:45 p.m.
My bad, it was not a ballot initiative. Even more incredible that these fools voted to take 1% from every dept to fund this junk.
David Briegel
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 1:54 a.m.
Yeah, the citizen/voters are sure fools! not
Davidian
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8:41 p.m.
I kept telling myself--lying to myself--that they were removing a rusted beam to make way for the sculpture. Unbelievable.
thinker
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8:41 p.m.
What will happen to the "just wait until they add the the water feature " in the winter, when they shut it off? Will they add anti-freeze so it can poison the animals who drink from it? Anyone have a better use for the water feature in winter? A skate park?
David Briegel
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 1:53 a.m.
I wouldn't mind if they poisoned the skunks! And the out of towners who don't like it!
Tom Whitaker
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8:40 p.m.
Does the $750K include the change orders to the building architect and contractor for designing and installing all the support infrastructure for the art piece (plumbing, electrical, concrete, etc.)?
Vivienne Armentrout
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 4:28 p.m.
According to this story in the Chronicle <a href="http://annarborchronicle.com/2011/06/25/art-commission-briefed-on-murals-dreiseitl/" rel='nofollow'>http://annarborchronicle.com/2011/06/25/art-commission-briefed-on-murals-dreiseitl/</a> the cost is more like $814,000 and that does not include site work and seating. I'm guessing it also does not cover the cost of getting pipes laid for the water works, or the landscaping.
Ryan J. Stanton
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 10:31 p.m.
I've posed your question to the city to clarify. Will post the response here when I get it.
Tru2Blu76
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8:39 p.m.
The sooner this art is fully installed, the sooner we'll see the end of the carping and criticizing. It's a non-issue, mostly because all public art is done by committee and because that never pleases everyone. Calling for electoral defeat of those responsible is also evidence that someone doesn't have their priorities straight and that they're over-reaching to support their own ideology. Unhappy to be living in Ann Arbor? Goodbye.
David Briegel
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 1:52 a.m.
Good post Tru2Blu76, Good Post!
Treelover
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 9:06 p.m.
Please remember your comments when you need emergency or other services and because of wasted money like this, you will be criticizing the public servants.
Top Cat
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8:37 p.m.
Who keeps re-electing the Mayor and the City Council? For the voters of Ann Arbor...For All You Do, This Dud's for You!
Charlie Brown's Ghost
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8:48 p.m.
We can thank all the AnnArborites who would vote for a bucket of mud just because it has a "D" next to it.
David Cahill
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8:36 p.m.
Great. It's made of bronze. So the world's largest urinal looks like the world's largest *rusty* urinal.
aamalcontent
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8:34 p.m.
"Any fool can criticize... and most fools do." Dale Carnegie Art takes time. I will withold judgement on how my $7 of tax money was spent.
LA
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 3:37 p.m.
"Like"!! Thanks for a touch of sanity.
braggslaw
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8:30 p.m.
I like art, I like creating art.... What I don't like is public money used on questionable art projects, especially in these trying economic times. Somebody needs to lose their job over this waste.
Harm
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8:28 p.m.
Maybe they could use it to help fix the Stadium bridges.......
barefootdave
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8:26 p.m.
They forgot to label it "bike rack".
futuremi
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8:22 p.m.
I think its needs to be up and functional before you can comment on how it looks. Yes a photo of a crane lifting a bronze piece in place is not how it is intended to be viewed. It may not be how I would have spent $750K but at least let it get installed before harping on the aesthetic appeal.
jeff4179
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8:16 p.m.
If I hadn't been following this story, I might have thought this was from "The Onion." Local community lays off police and fire fighters due to budget deficits, spends $750,000 on public "art."
KJMClark
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8:14 p.m.
I'm looking forward to seeing it when it's done. No one ever seems to like monumental art until a decade or more later. Unfortunately, like the art funded in the 1920s, this now seems way too expensive for the Depression we're in. It probably would have been better if they'd re-evaluated the situation last year and realized they didn't have the money after all. But there weren't *that* many of us who understood things weren't going to get better any time soon. (Hint, house prices *might* have bottomed in Ann Arbor, but probably not in Michigan yet. Couple more years to go.)
KJMClark
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 11:30 p.m.
Actually, if you read that second paragraph again more slowly, you'll see that I said basically what you said. If there weren't many of us that saw that things weren't getting better fast, that means the majority thought things *would* get better, which is what you say Mayor Hieftje thought. So he'd be in pretty good company, including many UM economists. They were wrong, but you have to be quite a pessimist (or "realist", as I like to call myself) to see that things were going to take a long time to get better.
racerx
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 9:08 p.m.
You must have missed the mayor's constant comments about how he didn't think the economy would be as bad. Though he said this about two years ago, Michigan's economy had been in a recession much sooner than the nation as a whole.
Guinea Pig in a Tophat
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8:13 p.m.
Looks like someone's already taken out their anger at it and blasted it with a shotgun, you can see the spray pattern. If we had police walking the streets like the olden days maybe this could have been prevented.
CRAZYMAD711
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8:07 p.m.
It is even more ugly than I thought it would be. This is art? Can somebody tell me the name of the person who decided on this pile of rusted, hole filled piece of junk. A 2-year old could do better. Into whose pocket did the payout go to, the mayor or some other idiot? Go to the dedication people; with PROTEST signs. With the multiple avenues of art in Ann Arbor, they bought something out of the country, you could at least stayed in the with something made in THE USA. What a waste. Cut money from needy people to cover ugly ART, just like the Washtenaw County BOC cutting money to the Shelter downtown Ann Arbor, while trying to give $15,000 more to 5 adminstrative staff for doing extra work, all who make over $100,000. Rich get rich and they sure have bad taste. Note: See Unions concerned about proposal that would boost salary of top Washtenaw County officials and Washtenaw County proposed budget includes $1.2 million cut to outside agencies in news last week.
KJMClark
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8:18 p.m.
Um, it's bronze. There isn't any rust on it. And it's a fountain. Where do you expect the water to come out if there aren't any holes?
A24eva
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8:06 p.m.
The money appropriated for public art in Ann Arbor was the result of a ballot measure passing which appropriated a percentage of tax revenues for public art. This was in fact voted on by the citizens of Ann Arbor. Given the low level of civic engagement in Ann Arbor, as evidenced by extraordinarily low voter turnout rates, the commenters on this board have little grounds for denouncing the city council and mayors office. Rather the elected officials are spending the money on public art projects which are funded by ballot initiative and determined by a citizens commission. The citizens posting here from other municipalities calling for the dismissal of our elected officials, and decrying the decisions made by Ann Arbor citizens have little grounds to complain.
1959Viking
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 1:02 p.m.
Thanks for the clarification, that makes a bit more sense. I still wish it had been a local artist.
Sparty
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 3:40 a.m.
We can complain and then vote again in November !
Useless
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 9:57 p.m.
Percent for Art was NOT voted on by the public. It is a city council passed resolution that could be changed by another city council resolution if the council wanted to.
racerx
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 9:06 p.m.
There was an election for the public to decide how the percentage of art program? When? Please do tell! I guess that was on the same ballot when the public was asked if $750K should be spent for a art sculpture or a police officers job. Oh yeah. I remember it now. Then I woke up.
Marilyn Wilkie
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8:28 p.m.
""The money appropriated for public art in Ann Arbor was the result of a ballot measure passing which appropriated a percentage of tax revenues for public art. This was in fact voted on by the citizens of Ann Arbor." Exactly when was that election? Refresh our minds please.
Tom Whitaker
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8:20 p.m.
Percent for Art was never on the ballot for a public vote.
aabikes
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8:06 p.m.
Is it really a 'complete' waste of money when there is an impressive list of Michigan jobs that were supported?
Lets Get Real
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8:01 p.m.
Ugly
Macabre Sunset
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8 p.m.
That was rather silly. And it looks like our master of the urinal can't even spell the names of the cities he's defaced.
Cash
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 7:59 p.m.
The greatest insult to local Michigan artists of all time. Every single person involved in this decision should get on their knees and apologize to every local artist...whose tax money was used to buy this garbage. Now as 3/4 of a million dollars goes to a foreign country NONE of it will be spent locally. And the City of Ann Arbor businesses continue to close and no one is shopping downtown. D'oh decision makers not only did you slap local artists in the face, but you slapped local businesses in the face, where local artists would spend their LOCAL dollars.
KJMClark
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 11:03 a.m.
"Private galleries (or museums) are not showcased as a symbol of local talent/beauty/pride. Public art is supposed to represent the community that it exists in." ??? So if the UMMA - a publicly-owned institution, puts up a sculpture on its lawn from a sculptor in Columbus Ohio, you have no problem with that because they call the institution a "museum"? But if the publicly-owned institution is called a "city hall" it has to be produced within some radius? And where's the rule written that public art is supposed to "represent the community it exists in"? And which community? Did they have to stop at the Huron/Division/5th/Ann community? DDA-only artists? Ann Arbor-only? Washtenaw County? No go on the world community, huh?
Dave
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 4:58 a.m.
"If the DIA or UMMA buys a Seurat or a Pollock, are they insulting all Michigan artists too?" Private galleries (or museums) are not showcased as a symbol of local talent/beauty/pride. Public art is supposed to represent the community that it exists in.
KJMClark
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 11:23 p.m.
The same artist did the renowned water sculpture at Millenium Park - so I suppose *you* might say that Chicago was insulting all of the artists in Illinois too. Maybe the guy is one of the top monumental art sculptors in the world? If the DIA or UMMA buys a Seurat or a Pollock, are they insulting all Michigan artists too?
aabikes
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 9:23 p.m.
Cash, I am directly referring to your comment! You say: "NONE of it will be spent locally." ... "you slapped local businesses in the face" Refuted in the article by what I've cited in my second comment. Is Michigan not local enough for you?
Cash
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 9:20 p.m.
No, I didn't miss any part. The "piece" is made by an artist from Germany. Where he got his inspiration, matters not. This is an insult to all local artists. End of story.
Matt Cooper
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8:28 p.m.
1. "Inspired by..." is not in any way the same as "...made by...". Not even close. 2. "Several Michigan based..." is not the same as "...built by Ann Arbor workers...". Again, not even close. 3. We are cutting basic services, asking fire fighters and police to pay more for their benefits, cutting jobs and getting more and more BS from those buffoons in city hall, all the while spending nearly a million dollars on this crap. Please, remember this come election time and get rid of every one of those clowns. They obviously care not about Ann Arbor nor what her citizens want or need.
aabikes
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8:09 p.m.
Cash? Did you miss this part? "the work is said to be locally inspired — planned by Quinn Evans Architects and InSite Design, both of Ann Arbor. Several Michigan-based contractors also worked on the project. Future Group from Warren was the main fabricator. Lighting and water technology was subcontracted to CAE from Hamburg. The bronze material came from Clarkston Fine Arts Centre in Clarkston, and the casting was subcontracted to Wolverine Bronze in Warren."
aabikes
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8:08 p.m.
wait, I'm confused. all 3/4 of a million dollars go to a foreign country? The article says a lot of local businesses were supported. Where did their money come from?
Barbara Annis
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 7:58 p.m.
I support public art, in fact THIS public art. It will be something to show future generations that we cared about something other than football, eating and drinking. It is a beautiful piece and will be more so when the water feature is added and landscaping is done.
Newzdog
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 4:18 p.m.
I want some of what Barbara is smoking!
Dave
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 4:55 a.m.
"Had the artist been a local, and had the project be paid for by private donors, I am certain that the public would not be outraged by this 'let them eat cake' attitude." Right on the money! I would have totally been OK with this 'public art', had it been paid for by private donation. [An added bonus had it been an Ann Arbor artist as well.]
alarictoo
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 11:36 p.m.
Barbara... "A beautiful piece" of WHAT???
Ricardo Queso
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 10:58 p.m.
People are out of work. Those that are not have had to tighten their belts. Public expenditures such as this are poor decisions at best and downright immoral in these times. Ann Arbor needs to find a few Medici family's to fund this "art".
janeqdoe
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8:34 p.m.
Or the money could have been spent on catching the public RAPIST to show future generations that we care about the physical and emotional well-being of the women of Ann Arbor.
Macabre Sunset
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8:32 p.m.
Psst... Barbara.... the emperor is actually not wearing any clothes at all...
a2girl
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8:09 p.m.
Regardless of whether or not you like it, could we not find a local artist to support? Had the artist been a local, and had the project be paid for by private donors, I am certain that the public would not be outraged by this "let them eat cake" attitude.
Marilyn Wilkie
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8:03 p.m.
you could add needed city services to your list for future generations.
Cash
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8:01 p.m.
Who cares? There's no reason a local artist couldn't do something just as nice...or BETTER.
Avery
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 7:57 p.m.
This is as important to City Hall as the architecture of the building itself. We could certainly have built a square, cheap, sturdy, cinder block building with a grass lawn in front. Or just cement, as that would require no upkeep. Is this what we want -- the blandest, dullest sgructure? Ann Arbor attracts businesses and visitors who come to see a vibrant, attractive downtown, of which our City Hall is certainly an important part.
Lets Get Real
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:05 p.m.
Architecture of the building itself, you say? The building is as ugly as the art? I get it now.
Dave
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 4:49 a.m.
"Ann Arbor attracts businesses and visitors who come to see a vibrant, attractive downtown, of which our City Hall is certainly an important part." Broken streets and a lack of basic city services do not attract business.
Stephen Landes
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 12:33 a.m.
The building itself is ugly -- sort of Stalinist architecture; lost of corrugated metal and junk on it. The ugly leaning-tower-urinal-thing is a fitting complement to an ugly building.
Elaine F. Owsley
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 11:38 p.m.
The building behind the structure looks like a space ship hangar and the sculpture does nothing to make the site any more attractive.
alarictoo
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 11:34 p.m.
Haven t seen many businesses being attracted lately, Avery. What the heck is that thing, anyway? A post-apocalyptic sun-dial?!?
Marilyn Wilkie
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8:02 p.m.
Yes, when needed city services are being pushed aside for this...bring on the grass!
Cash
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8:02 p.m.
Why not a local artist? That is the real question.
77paul
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 7:53 p.m.
My question is how many people will interact with the sculpture on a daily basis? In my opinion Sculpture is a peoples art meant to interact with its space it's in and people around it. Have lunch next to it have people touch it. If it fails to do this then it's a $750.000 failure Plus it should have been a Michigan artist, What happened to Made in Detroit!
Marilyn Wilkie
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 7:59 p.m.
regardless it is a $750,000 waste of good taxpayer's money. Liberal Ann Arbor government could not think of a better use for 1% of the budget of other more important city needs.
grye
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 7:51 p.m.
We should put one of these on every street corner, then get rid of all the city employees, police officers, firemen, shut down all the utilities, no garbage pickup. Get rid of everything so we can sit on our collective behinds and admire expensive art. Who needs anything else? And with such art and no city services, millions will flock to this city to enjoy the art and wish they could move here because it is such a wonderful place. Is our mayor and city council ever going to get it?
Marilyn Wilkie
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 7:51 p.m.
Oh, but this is ART!! Maybe they'll post a docent to explain what the artist was saying to us.....This is such an ARTISINAL sculpture.
Lewanster
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 7:50 p.m.
hahahaha - this is a joke - right ?
Elaine F. Owsley
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 7:50 p.m.
Who voted for this - it looks like it came from one of the scrap yards. Three quarters of a million dollars worth of ugly. And how much good might have been done with that money?
Alpha Beth
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 7:46 p.m.
Why not invest in functional public art? Something as banal as a manhole cover can be an artist's canvas; consider the prevalence of painted and sculpted manhole covers in postwar Japan (see book entitled "Drainspotting"). Then again, I guess manhole covers are a current target for scrap metal thieves...
Dave
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 5:11 a.m.
I think that's a innovative way on reconciling the need to only make practical investments, and the desire for public art. I'd be intrigued to see some proposals of that nature... compromises that kill two birds with one stone.
Always Amazed
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 7:44 p.m.
How many hungry children and homeless families could this money have helped? You've got to be kidding me!
Ignatz
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 7:43 p.m.
What's the return policy on this?
Lets Get Real
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:04 p.m.
I love it. You go Ignatz
huh7891
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 12:29 a.m.
Sorry..they removed the price tag, no returns.
cinnabar7071
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 9:06 p.m.
Buyer remorse? How about voter remorse.
Ignatz
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8:39 p.m.
I was hoping he was blind. There's no small amount of evidence for that.
gofigure
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 7:48 p.m.
It's ugly, you think he wants it back?
Go Blue
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 7:40 p.m.
I'm embarrassed and ashamed. What does this say about us as a city? Our economy is in shambles, what is crucial is ignored (bridge for example), key safety elements (police and fire) being reduced and council uses our tax dollars for this and could not even use local artists, to add insult to injury. Our city has sunk to new lows.
jcj
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 7:39 p.m.
i SUPPOSE WE EVEN HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS "ARTIST" to show up!
Dcam
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 7:39 p.m.
That's it? There's nothing more than the canted post with squiggles and holes? $3/4 million bucks doesn't buy very much today, does it? Minimalism in all but the price.
jcj
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 7:37 p.m.
This "artist "will be laughing all the way back to his German bank!
Dave66
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:20 p.m.
Heh. His German bank's money is going to Greece soon. So maybe, in some small part, our A2 art project will help prevent a global economic calamity which would end the world as we know it. We get all that, plus some weird piece of art, too! So it's not such a bad deal after all.
John of Saline
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 9:35 p.m.
Well, the Euro's having problems at the moment....
f4phantomII
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 7:36 p.m.
How many potholes can you fill for $750,000? How many cops or firefighters can you rehire for $250,000? Sheesh.
Jack
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 1:02 p.m.
Silly Sally - You have a very deflated idea of what a police officer makes.
Silly Sally
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 10:58 a.m.
KJM Clark is giving a typical liberal reply that distorts reality. He is not counting the present value (PV) of money, wjhich is that this $750,000 costs $37,500 per year to borrow at 5%. Has anyone ever gotten a home loan at Clark's zero percent rate? If the city owned this money, then it could be interest in the bank or money in a brokerage account. He is only including the ADDITIONAL costs of this waste of money. To be fair, he also needs to mention the original $750,000 spent. If invested at a modest 5% per year return, that is another $37,500 each and every year. Add that to his $15 k and you have close to 52k. More than enough for a police officer, fireman, or someone to fill potholes and his supplies.
Dave
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 4:45 a.m.
I can buy a slab of granite for $750,000, throw it in the middle of a plaza, and call it art. Sure, it'll probably outlast mankind itself, but what will it have done for us?
Dave
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 4:43 a.m.
Just because the sculpture will last longer than filled potholes doesn't make it a more practical purchase.
KJMClark
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 1:37 a.m.
Actually, not that many. The sculpture will last 50 years or more. Let's say it takes 2% a year of the original cost to maintain it. So the cost is $750,000/50 = $15,000 per year. Maintenance is 2% * $750,000 = $15,000. So the total per year is $30,000. You could pay for a crew to fill potholes with that, maybe for a week or two, except that it's water and sewer money, so you couldn't even do that. Maybe you could fix a couple of water main breaks. And how many police or firefighters can you hire for $30,000 per year? 0 The point is, you're comparing something like a *very* long-lived durable good to something like current consumption. That's like comparing a car to groceries. But let's not pretend we're buying something that will be gone in a year. A car is likely to last a decade or more (ours are 13 and 15 years old and working fine), groceries will be gone at the end of the week. This sculpture will almost certainly be there for your and my grandkids.
True Facts
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 7:36 p.m.
Unreal I dont want to hear anything else about money problems.
tommy_t
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 7:33 p.m.
You can't be serious! About as attractive as a rusty iron girder.
Buster W.
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 7:39 p.m.
Actually, I think it is one.
leezee
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 7:33 p.m.
Does that price include installation? I could have made something just as ugly for half the price.
Benjammin
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 7:32 p.m.
This is a testimony to the condescending city government and their attitude toward the hard working citizens of Ann Arbor. They reduce our services (fire/police, leaf pick-up, parks etc.) and then they waste our money on this "art". How in the world was there room in the budget for this ahead of other city services?
Lets Get Real
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:03 p.m.
Amen
janeqdoe
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8:38 p.m.
I suppose it's easy, when you're spending Other People's Money
Buster W.
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 7:30 p.m.
You're kidding, right? A2 paid $750k for that hunk of crap? Bahhh...glad I live in Saline.
John of Saline
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 9:34 p.m.
No joke.
Jeff S
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 7:29 p.m.
It kind of looks like it was sculpted by an emerald ash borer
Mark
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 11:16 p.m.
And that would have been more fitting, and the artist works for all the free ash it can get.
Davidian
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8:45 p.m.
Thanks--that cracked me up!!! I'm still laughing.
a2baggagehandler
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 7:28 p.m.
Sweet
deletedcomment
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 7:23 p.m.
That is the ugliest thing I have seen under the guise of art.
jondhall
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 7:23 p.m.
Recall the Mayor and City Council! This is Ridiculous. How about everyone vote for this one?
thinker
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 7:20 p.m.
Waste of money. Only will be enjoyed by the few people who walk by there everyday, and will be viewed by countless more, who want to point out to their friends and visitors the three-quarter- million dollar folly paid for on the backs of Ann Arbor citizen's taxes! Remember this when you vote, folks!
buenaonda
Fri, Sep 30, 2011 : midnight
Probably a fraction of the $750k went to the actual sculpture. Don't believe everything that this website puts in print because it can be misleading. This is a $750k storm-water retention system, not a $750k stick of bronze. Unfortunately, this article says nothing of the scope of this system, it only mentions a price tag, and shows pictures of the aesthetic structure linked to the system. Thanks Ann Arbor.com. Think about the cost of building City Hall (around $50 mil) and now think about the relatively minor cost of this project.