7 JUL 05: ART AND LETTER
"What does this mean? What am I to assume?" So writes sculptor Albert Paley in a letter sent to lawyers for the Muscogee County Library Board last week. That's funny -- people here have asked those very same questions, about the statue he wants to build outside the Columbus Public Library.
Albert Paley has declined all requests for interviews about "Transformation." But he has plenty to say in a letter to the Muscogee County Library Board which became public Wednesday. Paley is stumped about why the board wants him to put a hold on the project. OK, there's one more person for my "blog invitation" list.
Your blog was handed a copy of Albert Paley's letter to the Library Board Wednesday. But in the true library spirit, I checked it back in after reading it and taking notes....
The letter dated June 30 from Albert Paley warns the Library Board will NOT save money by delaying work on "Transformation." Instead, there will be "additional cost expenditures.... restocking charges, storage fees, shipping costs...." Paley could have a great future managing Blockbuster Video stores.
The letter from Albert Paley was actually a reply to one the Muscogee County Library Board sent him June 15. That letter asked for work on the statue to stop "in light of the funding issue." Paley's answer says he does NOT understand what the board is talking about - and I don't, either. If the statue only cost $100,000, would more people like it?
For those who came in late: the "funding issue" with this proposed $250,000 sculpture is that Columbus Council considers it too expensive. The Muscogee County Library Board may not have the heart to tell Albert Paley there are other issues -- like Red McDaniel saying it looked like a pile of scrap.
Albert Paley's letter offers a hint as to why "Transformation" costs $250,000: "Because of the demand in China of steel usage, steel orders are backed up for six to eight weeks...." The Library Board should learn a lesson from this. Order large sculptures through Wal-Mart, and the price from China could be much less.
Albert Paley's four-page letter asks at one point: "Is this project merely on hold, or are we entering into a breach of contract situation?" He truly is an artist, isn't he? This is one fanciful way to threaten a lawsuit....
Perhaps the saddest part of Albert Paley's letter is this: "Quite disturbingly, I have received hate mail from various religious groups and individuals in reference to the sculpture and my intent." Religious groups?! Do Roy Moore's supporters want a Ten Commandments monument outside the library instead?
(OK, which local "religious groups" are protesting "Transformation?" I thought the church denomination I attend was the only one which looks at works such as the Washington Monument, and sees phallic symbols.)
"Oddly enough," Albert Paley's letter continues, "I have completed commissions for the Vatican, the Vatican Council of Bishops, and most recently, the National Cathedral in Washington." That should boil down the religious protest a little. It's probably from either Southern Baptists and Pentecostals....
(Before rumors start: - no, I have NOT written Albert Paley to complain about him doing art work for Roman Catholics. Nor have I written NBC Sports, to complain about them showing mostly Notre Dame football games every fall.)
Albert Paley goes on to say the debate over "Transformation" now has a "national dimension.... which brings into question my integrity and professionalism as an artist, and thus my reputation...." I can hear the critics now, saying counterfeiters consider themselves professional artists as well.
Albert Paley has told his staff to keep working on "Transformation" for the time being. But his letter says because of the controversy, "I feel at this point compromised through no fault of my own." Paley may have a point here. Just because a used car lot is full of lemons doesn't mean you have to buy one.
The Muscogee County Library Board's Art Committee holds its next meeting Friday. It's taking pains to make sure you know about it, and how it's open to the public. The problem now is that meetings between the board's attorneys and Albert Paley's lawyers probably won't be.
Meanwhile, the Chattahoochee Valley Regional Library System announced Wednesday it's set a record - with one million checkouts of materials in the last 12 months. That's the record officials are talking about. There probably also was a record in June for complaints about statues, but that hasn't been announced.
And speaking of public displays: the Columbus Museum began receiving pieces Wednesday for a new exhibit honoring Horace King. He's the 19th-century slave who designed the first bridge between Columbus and Phenix City. King obviously was smarter than his master, because no bridges over the Chattahoochee charge tolls today.
BLOG UPDATE: A partial settlement was announced Wednesday between the U.S. Justice Department and Taylor County schools. The high school no longer will have top students selected on the basis of race - and no, it will NOT be replaced with selections based on whether you listen to country or hip-hop music.
Taylor County school officials say they had "black and white" senior honors to ensure equal representation for all ethnic communities. The U.S. Justice Department decided that actually could be a form of segregation. This settlement could be
groundbreaking - and lead to articles about white people in the Columbus Times.
(This Taylor County racial issue was over what settlement papers call "senior superlatives." For those of you in Muscogee County high schools, this apparently refers to who's the "illest.")
Now for other Wednesday notes, in which we will try not to discriminate based on anything in particular:
+ The remains of Tropical Storm Cindy sparked tornado warnings across the Columbus area. Several funnel clouds were cited - but were some drivers looking up so much that they caused that wreck at the west end of the J.R. Allen Parkway?
+ Columbus Police confirmed Hannan Academy music teacher David Seckinger was arrested last weekend, on charges including "making terroristic threats." He reportedly made these threats to his girlfriend - so love songs may not be this man's specialty.
+ Auburn officials declared an arsonist set fire to the Indian Pines golf course clubhouse last weekend, apparently after a burglary. Michael Jordan never does this after HE loses bets on the fairway....
+ Instant Message to the man who called claiming there's something in common between "Dancing With the Stars" and meteorologist Heath Morton: I'll have to take a wild guess because you stumped me -- do you think Morton and Kelly Monaco are brother and sister?
SCHEDULED FRIDAY: What's new in the Kenneth Walker case.... and it's about money....
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