Artists Find No Port in a Storm

San Diego was justifiably proud last week when plays from two local theaters won Tony Awards. But this triumph for original, creative drama was quickly upstaged by the cultural equivalent of “The Gong Show” when the Board of Port Commissioners rejected sculptures by nationally known artist Vito Acconci and La Jolla’s Roberto Salas.

Acconci had designed several playful pieces resembling boats and airplanes for a park at Spanish Landing, and Salas had planned an 18-foot blue palm tree sculpture/fountain for Harbor Island.

From the start, the works were controversial, especially Acconci’s original design, which was criticized as looking like a plane crash. Acconci accepted the criticism graciously and redesigned his piece.

Such a concession goes against the grain for most artists, as the commission learned in 1985 when well-known artist Ellsworth Kelly withdrew his 65-foot stainless steel spire for Embarcadero Park because he was uncomfortable with the design compromises requested by the Port District.

Despite that experience and Acconci’s redesign, however, a majority of commissioners decided to use popular and personal taste to judge--and reject--the Acconci and Salas sculptures.

Given the climate for public art on the Port District board, it is not surprising that the board’s five arts advisers quit in protest and embarrassment. It is uncertain whether the commissioners will replace them or even continue with their public art program.

At issue is how much voice the public should have in choosing public art.

Port Commissioner Milford Portwood of Imperial Beach, one of the five commissioners who voted against the Acconci project, thought the public voice was important. So he conducted an informal survey. The real estate broker asked people he dealt with in Imperial Beach and those he met at social functions what they thought. Most had not seen the model, only photographs of it. But, he said, most were opposed. Portwood said he believes in public art but thinks that perhaps a cross-section of people should act as advisers rather than just members of the art community.

That may sound good on the surface, but if the Old Globe and the La Jolla Playhouse gave a pile of scripts to a public panel and asked them to choose what plays to put on, it is unlikely that Tony winners “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” and “Into the Woods” would have been selected.

Art decisions are best left to artists. The port commissioners had the right idea with an arts advisory committee, which made its recommendation after a nationwide competition. The board will never be able to avoid controversy, however, because it must make the final decision. San Diego is culturally mature enough to withstand the controversy, if given the chance, and might even thrive on it.

The Port District, which can afford to fund public artworks, should not abandon its program--especially since the mayor has proclaimed this the Year of the Arts.