Art Controversy

RE: Roberto Salas’ proposal for the Harbor Island competition:

When has there been an instance in history when controversy has not been the companion of truly innovative works of public art? Debate is not so much the issue to address as the process which the advisory committee followed and which resulted in the selection of the Salas piece.

The members of the committee are professionals who are knowledgeable of art, ancient through contemporary. They are qualified to judge and entitled to be perhaps at least a little visionary. I side with the advisory board’s decision on these grounds, also on a personal level regarding their choice. Not only is the cobalt blue palm tree aesthetically sound and of excellent design (the accompanying water fountain and sidewalks included), but the whole idea behind a monolithic and humanized palm tree seems to me to be representative of the San Diego area. I cannot neglect to add that the material of which the tree is to be constructed, concrete, seems suggestive of the process and state of petrification. Some things become beautiful through time.

Let’s hope that the Salas proposal will be given the chance to be viewed as an actual full-scale sculpture so that the San Diego community and visitors to our city will be provided with an opportunity to experience, appreciate, and perhaps learn from higher art.

C. YVETTE TAPP

San Diego