Artists not happy with sculpture's removal from Carkeek Park
SEATTLE -- At Carkeek Park there are supposed to be 16 artists exhibiting very public works of art, but at installation eight there's something unexpected.
That's where David Francis is carrying a sign. On one side is a map of the exhibit, and on the other it says "Sculpture Removed."
"I was very upset when I got the message," he said. "I was shocked."
Officials with the Seattle Parks and Recreation removed Brian Gerich's piece called "Consistency." The Seattle Weekly called it "perhaps the best piece in the show."
Parks and Recreation spokeswoman Dewey Potter said an inspector found wires in the installation that were pulling one of the trees and bending it.
The artists say they understand pieces may have to come down.
"For instance, if a piece of work was to become a danger through vandalism a danger to the public, we would understand 100 percent," said Ray Freeman with the Center on Contemporary Art.
But with the sculpture "Consistency" there was one big problem: No one called the curator and no one called the artist. They just took it down.
"It was a delicate piece that a team of three installed from a flatbed," said exhibit curator Francis. "I knew that the piece could not be set on the ground without breaking some of the cedar slats that were very delicate."
That's what happened. The piece was heavily damaged. The parks department says there will be a letter of apology.
Artists want assurances it will never happen again.
So will there be a fourth annual art exhibit at Carkeek Park? A lot depends on whether the two sides can communicate and find a way to get together.
That's where David Francis is carrying a sign. On one side is a map of the exhibit, and on the other it says "Sculpture Removed."
"I was very upset when I got the message," he said. "I was shocked."
Officials with the Seattle Parks and Recreation removed Brian Gerich's piece called "Consistency." The Seattle Weekly called it "perhaps the best piece in the show."
Parks and Recreation spokeswoman Dewey Potter said an inspector found wires in the installation that were pulling one of the trees and bending it.
The artists say they understand pieces may have to come down.
"For instance, if a piece of work was to become a danger through vandalism a danger to the public, we would understand 100 percent," said Ray Freeman with the Center on Contemporary Art.
But with the sculpture "Consistency" there was one big problem: No one called the curator and no one called the artist. They just took it down.
"It was a delicate piece that a team of three installed from a flatbed," said exhibit curator Francis. "I knew that the piece could not be set on the ground without breaking some of the cedar slats that were very delicate."
That's what happened. The piece was heavily damaged. The parks department says there will be a letter of apology.
Artists want assurances it will never happen again.
So will there be a fourth annual art exhibit at Carkeek Park? A lot depends on whether the two sides can communicate and find a way to get together.
