Art

You didn’t pay for it, so call a Whambulance

l3wis June 12, 2025 17Comments

I found this comment about the new PUBLIC art piece at the Steel District interesting, especially the last sentence.

I don’t care who paid for it, it is sitting in the public square, which would make it PUBLIC art. It actually did cost us. We provided a $21.5 million TIF package*, which included $9.4 million in Site Improvements.

My recollection is that either included in that amount for Site Improvements (or designated elsewhere in the City budget?) was earmarked for art in public places at The Steel District.

This is why public art must go thru a vetting process NO MATTER who is paying for it. What if Denny Sanford wanted to construct a massive pumpkin sculpture and put it in the Federal Courthouse plaza? He’s paying for it? So what’s wrong with that? Having the donors pick the art is a bad idea. I like the piece though, it should just be painted white.

Also, I know in the past if you were a business owner and you wanted to paint a mural on your business you had to present the concept drawings and idea to the Visual Arts Commission for approval before proceeding with a building permit and sign permit. So how is this any different? Special people get Special treatment in Sioux Falls. I hope the next mayor tells this ilk to go to Heck and find some other trough to feed at.

* also included as extra is Permanent Finance Cost of up to 5% of total eligible TIF expenses (up to $1.075 million, which likely went right to the pocket of Craig Lloyd’s SIL, who is likely providing / arranging financing for the project).

Art Downtown Sioux Falls Public Works Sioux Falls Washington Pavilion

More Public Art, another critique

l3wis June 4, 2025 2Comments

My first critique of the sculptures is something everybody has been saying that have seen it ‘There is too much crap in that space and it just looks like the lawn sculpture garden on Cleveland Avenue’. Besides the overcrowding I would have done one of two things with the sculptures. The pieces themselves are beautiful and I think they will withstand the rigors of SD weather (I have a wait an see on that one, glass doesn’t do well in hail and subzero temps). I would have either spaced out the existing sculptures more or I would have made the bases narrower to make more space between the pieces. It goes back to the overcrowding in that space and it looks like the space between the pieces was compromised. But hey when you hire Mark Cotter’s kid with a lawnmower to prepare the site, what do you expect? I even saw them hauling in a bunch of trees today.

Speaking of city projects, looks like the ice ribbon is finally getting poured.

Art Sioux Falls

The City of Sioux Falls Arts Coordinator is jobbing out her duties

l3wis June 2, 2025 2Comments

I saw the below RFP and wondered why? I thought we specifically hired an Arts Coordinator as a full-time position with the city to coordinate the arts. Part of YOUR job would be to come up with a cultural plan and use local non-profits as reference and help. But this is what the city does all the time. They have internal attorneys, engineers, etc., that we pay well with great benefits, and all they do is coordinate the consultant reports. We need to do one of two things at this juncture. Either eliminate her position and hire a consultant to put together a plan, OR, better yet, let her keep her job, AND MAKE HER DO IT! You were hired for your supposed talents, show us what they are. Because the words ‘consultant’ and ‘public art’ have nothing to do with each other. Not to mention you could probably lift a cultural plan from another city our size and tweak it. This is all public information, another city can’t ‘charge’ you if you take their plan and tweak if for our town. I think the first question they need to ask potential directors interviewing with the city is, “Do you know what google is?”

Art Sculpture Walk Sioux Falls

Interesting Sculpture

l3wis May 29, 2025 8Comments

I will have to admit, SculptureWalk has turned into a great public art display. After I publicly needled the organization about a proper jury process, and they made the changes, (but not before skewering me in the media) the exhibit has gotten more diverse and interesting. The first few years were a bunch of hokey religious and wildlife themed art, but once they brought in a GENUINE jury, the exhibit got great.

A few years back there was a piece that I think sits at Cherapa II that looks identical to a bull penis. So this year this ‘bird’ sculpture kinda reminds you of a Georgia O’Keeffe painting, if yah know what I mean. It is a beautiful piece, but I’m not seeing birds. But maybe the whole point of the piece is to connect the birds on an emotional level? Maybe I am thinking to much about this since the heart shaped cut-outs almost make the piece sappy and corny. One of my friends said it looked like a plant pod, and I responded, “Sure and I’m the spitting image of Matt Damon.”

Georgia was asked once in a documentary about her flower paintings in 1976, “Did some people find sexual symbolism in your flowers?” And Georgia responded, “They were talking about themselves and not me.” Subjectivity, a wonderful thing. So enjoy the birds, the plant pod, or whatever this beautiful piece is. The mystery is what makes great art. I would be thrilled if this piece won people’s choice. But please, please, please, place it next to the bull penis sculpture.

Art Downtown Sioux Falls Public Works Sioux Falls

Public Art Critique

l3wis May 29, 2025 5Comments

I have been admiring this new sculpture at the Steel District. I like the concept and the design (the cut out key hole is laying to the side of the piece) But, the yellow color doesn’t fit well in the development. I would change the color to a pearl essence iridescent paint that illuminates and sparkles in sunlight and moonlight and changes color depending on the light shining on it, I would also round the edges of the outer structure while leaving the keyhole with a straight on cut. It would give it more of an obelisk look to it. This is why ALL public art should go thru a PUBLIC vetting process even if it is privately funded. You get better art. We learned nothing from Mural-Gate when a private donor email harvester, the police chief and the mayor censored a piece that was later presented at the Smithsonian. When picking public art, a diverse jury of not only artists, but designers, contractors and other lay people help decide. This diversity gives you diverse public art. I can guarantee how this played out; The developer picked out the piece (concept drawings) and presented to the VAC ‘as is’ and they approved it. Zero vetting process. Money doesn’t buy class or taste.

You didn’t pay for it, so call a Whambulance

More Public Art, another critique

The City of Sioux Falls Arts Coordinator is jobbing out her duties

Interesting Sculpture

Public Art Critique

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