SAN DIEGO COUNTY PERSPECTIVE : The Eyes of the Beholders

Carlsbad city officials thought they had covered the problems that cities usually encounter with public art. They introduced internationally known artist Andrea Blum and a model of her sculpture “Split Pavilion” to community groups and merchants. They sent a flyer describing the piece to every household.

What else could the city have done to include the community in the decision process? But the praiseworthy process did not prevent the protest that public art often engenders. Petitions for its removal have been circulated, and few pass by the work on Carlsbad Boulevard without comment, much of it negative.

Some consider the work ugly, especially the tall galvanized steel bars that line the sidewalk side of the triangular seaside sculpture--a sort of pocket art park with concrete and steel trellises, reflecting ponds and benches facing the ocean. Unlike dealing with a museum piece, Carlsbad residents can’t just ignore this artwork and move on to one they like better. Public art is a visible part of the community. That’s what makes it provocative. If there were more of it, instead of a piece here and there, there could be a broader variety of styles.

Others find the $338,000 price tag objectionable. Doesn’t government have anything better to do with its money? they ask. But that’s a separate issue. If residents don’t want public money spent on art, they should make that the issue. If they think that’s too much to spend for one artwork, they had their chance to complain.

Where are those who like it? And those who gave silent assent when consulted? Let’s hope that they show up at Thursday’s public hearing on the nearly complete work. The only offense that would be greater than a sculpture that offends some people would be the offense of removing it.