Perhaps I'm an art Luddite.

[Bob38S]

Just seen ABC TV Lateline, the discussion was on a new piece of Sydney "Street Art".

Cost to the ratepayers to be $11.3 million, ie $11 300 000.00.

I understand that art is all in the eye of the beholder but being described as a cloud, a large bendy bit of steel etc I'm having a little difficulty accepting the so called given concept and am absolutely astounded that this is going to be acceptable to the ratepayers of Sydney.

I've just checked, it's not April 1, perhaps they are just starting early. I could give my interpretation of what I saw but that would probably put this thread into the red room.

For those who have no idea of what I'm referring to, here is a link to the artwork that was the topic for discussion.

Cloud Arch - City Art Sydney

It appears to be that Sydney is not alone in its quest to spend ratepayers hard earned on................

Cloud art sculpture, Sydney: $11m public sculpture funded by taxpayers

[Chris Parks]

Your reaction was my initial reaction as well, what bloody big waste of money. Then I thought back to when the Opera House was first being mooted and built and it got the exact same reaction from memory, Blue Poles was another so it seems art can be rather contentious and after the event is usually looked on with a different POV.

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

It's an adjunct to Sydney's Light-rail project? Pointless added to useless.

I wonder what it's intended to distract the rate-payers' attention from?

Your reaction was my initial reaction as well, what bloody big waste of money. Then I thought back to when the Opera House was first being mooted and built and it got the exact same reaction from memory, Blue Poles was another so it seems art can be rather contentious and after the event is usually looked on with a different POV.

Or Melbourne's Yellow Peril? The last I recall, it'd been banned from the CBD as 'unsuitable' and moved to Batman Park, although I think it has since been shunted off again. Probably under an overpass in the swamplands...

[rustynail]

I guess the art is seeing what you can get away with.

[Mr Brush]

I could never understand how these projects ever got approved........then I watched Utopia (ABC), and all became clear. The most recent episode was particularly relevant to the cost of these projects....

Check it out on iView

[Twisted Tenon]

I don't mind the piece. It's the $11 Mill I disapprove of. Especially given the recent sleepin at Martin Place recently by homeless people. Blue Poles? I don't and never will get it. We should sell it now before someone realises that it was used as Jackson Pollock's drop sheet. Still it was a smart investment. Purchased for $1Mill now worth $100 Mill plus. Just think of how many schools, hospitals or maybe a super fast train it could fund.

TT

[ian]

What I want to know is how the cost has gone from $3.5 to $11.3 M.

My initial thoughts are that $3.5, the cost is close to the upper end of "sort of reasonable", but at $11.3 just who has their nose in the trough?
Almost certainly it's not the artist.

I wonder what the public relations and financial people are being paid.

[Lappa]

It's being called "The Tapeworm" in Sydney. Quite appropriate when you link it to its biggest fan - Clover Moore.

The show Utopia is spot on!

[ian]

I've just done some sums,
140 tonnes equates to more than 17 cubic metres of steel
Stainless steel costs in the order of $10,000 per tonne, so the steel required is worth less than $2M.
Assuming the initial cost of $3.5 M included a hefty fee to the designer, the new price includes around $8.0 M for fabrication (wages and consumables) and installation.

Like this week's Utopia, something doesn't add up.

At a "labour rate" of $200,000 per person per year that works out at around 40 person years of welding, descaling, painting, digging, concreting, craneing, etc.
It's very hard to see how those 40 people would all fit into the construction site.

[Crick60]

Perhaps we should open a public works department and do it "the old fashioned way"

Ian your remarks are spot on for the homeless, even if there not remotely linked programs they're being paid from the same public coffers and it's disgusting.

[Bob38S]

Thanks to all who replied.

I wasn't sure at first, if it was me who was out of step or not. Public artworks do have the ability to enhance an area and make it an area that people like to visit for admiration or ridicule. My biggest objection to this particular piece is the cost to the public purse especially as we are constantly being told that things are tight and we need to spend our hard earned wisely. Should some well heeled benefactor wish to donate this piece to the city then public acceptance of the piece would be entirely on its merits.

It is my understanding that the Opera House was in large part funded by the Opera House Lottery. That way Joe Public would at least have the choice to participate or not.

[rrich]

I hope that you can introduce me to the city fathers that control the purse strings.

There is this magnificent span over the east river in New York City that is for sale. The numbers indicate that the length will fit nicely across the harbor entrance. The bridge is available and can be moved to any place on the planet. The bridge connects Brooklyn with Manhattan and is most commonly known as 'The Brooklyn Bridge'.

All offers will be entertained.

[Bob38S]

Gee Rich, a pity you are so far away as I'm sure we would have many city fathers/mothers who would be very interested especially as they have such easy access to the public purse.

Just in in case you are interested we have this big rock in Central Australia which is open to removal. I'm told it would make reasonable road base and that the price is very attractive. As you have stated, all offers entertained. Banking details for Dodgy Brothers are available on request.

[rwbuild]

$11.3 million would put someone in clover, more or less........

[rrich]

Gee Rich, a pity you are so far away as I'm sure we would have many city fathers/mothers who would be very interested especially as they have such easy access to the public purse.

Just in in case you are interested we have this big rock in Central Australia which is open to removal. I'm told it would make reasonable road base and that the price is very attractive. As you have stated, all offers entertained. Banking details for Dodgy Brothers are available on request.

Bob,
I love it. SWMBO is wondering what I'm laughing about.