SLO County News BlogGolf, Wine, Real Estate, Business & Travel NewsSLO Public ArtThursday, February 24, 2005In the past three decades, something remarkable has happened to San Luis Obispo, something unexpected and unusual for a city of its size: It has become a public art Mecca.Look around and you'll see art cropping up everywhere. From Jim Jacobson's simple contemporary "Seven Sisters Railing" on Santa Rosa Street between Marsh and Pacific to Elizabeth MacQueen's classical "Ironroad Pioneers" in Railroad Square - SLO Town's public art policy has fostered a remarkable array of public art pieces throughout our community. In a city facing tough budget problems, one may ask, "Why spend money on art? Why concern ourselves with aesthetics at all?" Why indeed! Why bother with landscaping city parks? Paying for street sweepers? Enforcing architectural review? Public art is an extension of who we are, our desire to adorn ourselves with not just sackcloth but with decorative fabrics, jewelry, fashion. It's human nature (at least for most of us) to worry about appearances. Having the same interest in decorating our public environment as we do ourselves and our homes is perfectly natural. Just how does public art benefit a community? In a town like SLO, where tourism is an important element to our economic vitality, a strong public art program can lead to a memorable visit. San Luis Obispo is currently the only community in the county to have a comprehensive policy that requires all new development - both public and private - to set aside a percentage of the cost of capital improvements toward public art. The city has attracted an increasing number of public artists from throughout the country who are requesting notification on public art projects. In the years to come, we'll get some art that's really "out there," and we're already heading that way. Your art, my art... public art Glen Starkey, New Times, SLO Read More
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