VANCOUVER — If you google “why public art matters,” you’ll find countless articles that wax poetic about how it adds meaning to our civic life, slows down pedestrians and sparks conversation. (The city requires developers to contribute a piece of public art whenever they undertake re-zoning projects greater than 100,000 square feet.) “As cool as this may be, the optics of a $4.8 million chandelier … is very short-sighted & tone-deaf to the financial struggles many are facing,” one person tweeted. “I think at a time of desperate need for housing, $4.8 million on a chandelier definitely looks like giving poor folks the finger, no matter how well intentioned,” wrote another. Eric Fredericksen, the city’s public art program manager, said Thursday he expected the piece to generate strong reaction and the concerns are valid.

Source: National Post November 29, 2019 12:01 UTC