Mailbag: Vasquez: changes needed for city’s art management

Changes needed for city’s art management

Dear City Manager Pietig, Sian Poeschl, Arts Commission Chair and Vice Chair:

The day after concerns about my art (a wood palette) were aired at the June 13 Arts Commission meeting that included Vice Chair’s statement “if not beyond repair and returned it would be exhibited,” my palette was somehow found quickly and held for me in the Arts Commission Staff’s office!

Wow, an astonishing discovery so contrary to concerted assertions that my palette was most likely a victim of a “traffic collision with poles, natural disaster or succumbed to the ‘temporary’ nature of its material.”

The palette was in good condition but my art suffered many surface scratches showing a lack of care and most alarming, someone else’s hand obviously repainted the last number of the date; both are violations of VARA, the state and federal guidelines protecting artists’ rights.

This holds significant importance to me as an artist and as former Chair of the Arts Commission developing the Laguna Beach guidelines for Art In Public Places because such immediate action was only taken under pressure after decades of inquiry and requests; it is an admission by city staff of ineptness.

I am asking the city of Laguna Beach and Arts commission to make amends and a public apology for its lack of care and oversight of artists’ work; hopefully, by example, that will change the way artists and their unique works are treated by this city.

I encourage and welcome other artists to contact me and share their concerns so we can advise and help make positive changes to this city’s art management.

In the meantime, I draw the city’s attention to the handling and rights of artists, the need for transparency and cooperation, education and diligence in curating and managing public art.

Leah Vasquez
Arts Commissioner 1983-1987

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A little more about Independence Day

In 1776, representatives from the 13 British colonies in America gathered in Philadelphia to see if they could unite and declare independence from Britain; and if successful, form a new nation.

Have you ever wondered why, at the risk of their lives and fortunes, did they do this? These brave gentlemen all had successful lives under the British. They were not enslaved or encumbered by the British, other than some taxes, yet they risked it all for independence. Think of the obstacles and risks they had to overcome to even assemble to discuss what amounted to treason.

The foremost obstacle was that each of the 13 colonies were successful in their own right and each had a degree of independence and goals of their own. Further, a large segment of the population was reasonably satisfied with their lives under Britain rule and therefore loyal to the Crown.

The leaders of the independence movement were faced with an almost impossible goal of getting 13 diverse colonies to give up some of the freedoms they already had to risk it all for separation from England.

Despite all the risks and dangers our founding fathers somehow united sufficiently to declare independence. During the resulting wars with England for our independence; many of the founders did lose their fortunes, freedoms, and even their lives. We should be forever grateful for their sacrifices.

Eleven years later, after the brutal war for independence, many of the founders and other patriots joined in writing a Constitution for the first truly free nation where free citizens are supposed to rule the government. (A government by and for the people.)

Again, that was almost as politically difficult for the representatives as generating the Declaration of Independence since each of the now free colonies still had their own needs and goals.

Issues like slavery, taxes, Indians, trade issues, regulations, foreign dealings etc. made it extremely difficult to create one document satisfactory to everyone. Though perhaps less than perfect, they came up with the most remarkable document ever created for the people.

A few of the Constitution’s authors had made it their life work to study the past attempts of other nations like England, France, and Greece and see where they had good ideas but had failed in various degrees to give freedom to their people.

All those other countries failed, or were not completely successful, probably because no government really likes the people to be in power. Our Constitution gave the power to the people, and I am sure if it were not for internal opposition here and there, the founders would have eliminated slavery right from the start and probably have given women the vote.

We all owe a lot to our brave, dedicated, brilliant founders. We should do all we can to preserve the wonderful freedoms they won for us at great cost to themselves. And of course, the nation owes a lot to our military who have for more than a century defended this country from all enemies at great cost to life and limb.

Dave Connell
Laguna Beach