San Diego

The San Diego City Council on Monday joined the long list of critics angered by the lack of public input sought by the San Diego Unified Port District on its proposal to commission a $450,000 harborfront sculpture by world-renowned artist Ellsworth Kelly.

Port commissioners are due to take a final vote today on Kelly’s two massive sculptures, to be placed at Embarcadero Park near Seaport Village. Kelly was the choice of an art advisory board appointed by the Port District. His proposed design of two large, simple structures--one stainless steel, the other concrete--that would form a gateway to the city’s harbor has proved controversial, but no more so than the process that preceded the decision by the advisory board to commission the work.

“From (today) forward, the port’s process in choosing (artwork) ought to be open,” said Councilman Mike Gotch, who drafted a resolution criticizing the port that was unanimously supported by the council. The port, Gotch said, “should take appropriate measures (to ensure) citizen review and comment on the purchase and placement of art.”

Councilman William Jones said: “The issue is not with the kind of art, but a question of the method (used to choose it). If you spend public money on public art, there should be public review and comment.”