Comments on The Burd Report: friday

Art is a frivolous distraction. The money wasted ...

2009-09-10T08:09:41.631-04:00

Art is a frivolous distraction. The money wasted on this kind of nonsense over the years could be have been invested in securities. On second thought...

If I understand the point of the "arts assess...

2009-09-09T14:28:02.625-04:00

If I understand the point of the "arts assessment" that attaches to every project we build in Cobourg, the accumulating funds are to be used for the benefit of any and all well-considered artful projects, which likely will be independent of the particular projects that provide the funding through the application of the funding formula. It is intended, I think, to provide a general pool of funds from which general art projects can be funded. It does not mean, as far as I understand, that all the money derived from the CCC arts assessment will be used to provide "art" for that project only. Any other comments on this interpretation of the policy, anyone?

It's my experience that when people say, "...

2009-09-09T12:04:07.594-04:00

It's my experience that when people say, "It's not the money, it's the principle of the thing," it usually is the money.

It's refreshing to hear an opinion from someone who comes right out and says, "It's the money." Not heartwarming, but certainly refreshing. Thanks, Get Real.

The likelihood of my refraining from making assumptions: Zero. But I didn't mean that you don't appreciate high end public art, just that, for some reason, you don't want to pay for it. Why?

Anyone who really does appreciate art can easily get involved with the Committee on Art in Public Spaces. Call Miriam Mutton.

Who said I approve of the costs of building the co...

2009-09-08T17:06:23.694-04:00

Who said I approve of the costs of building the community centre, hell, I wouldn`t build it at all. Mr. Hayes should refrain from making assumptions.

And who says I don`t appreciate art for that matter. I just don`t think you have to spend big bucks to get it. What concerns me is that the art that will be purchased here will be high priced junk and make nobody happy.

I doubt somehow that we would end up with anything remotely like the Parthenon, more likely something akin to the pile of poopy looking glop that passes for a sculpture in Victoria Park where it is intended to honour victims of abuse.

Better to stick with the colourful mural painted by our talented local youth. If the art students are half as talented as the music students we`ll be just fine.

Here's a link to a recent article Who Needs Art, Anyway?, subtitled "Politicians don't value it. Why would they? It threatens them."

PS. My high end speller tells me I should have written "Peloponnesian" War.

Get Real doesn't like what he calls "high...

2009-09-08T12:26:15.097-04:00

Get Real doesn't like what he calls "high end art" though he doesn't object to high end bricks and mortar. Twas ever thus.

In the midst of the Pelopenesian War, Pericles decided that Athens should have both guns and butter. He commissioned Phidias and other high end artists of the day to build the Parthenon and carve the Elgin Marbles. We have them today because of his decision 2,500 years ago.

Miriam Mutton understands this history; Get Real should study it.

Never mind Norlock, I have a bone to pick with Cob...

2009-09-07T10:16:20.494-04:00

Never mind Norlock, I have a bone to pick with Cobourg Town councillor Miriam Mutton.

Last year she wanted to pay to keep empty heritage buildings warm in the winter, this year she wants to spend lots of taxpayer dollars on art for the community centre.

Not satisfied with $50,000 worth of art, she wants to apply a policy that says we should spend 1%of the cost of the building on art to decorate it. That would be more like $250,000.

Would it not be more community minded to have a bunch of school kids do big, colourful murals on the walls instead? I'm sure $50,000would pay for a local artist to advise and supervise the project, and there could be a contest with teams of kids submiting designs.

That would be much more fun, and more respectful of our taxpayers, many of whom probably do not share the councillor's preference for high end art.

Gary isn't the first local to be passed over f...

2009-09-04T16:34:52.382-04:00

Gary isn't the first local to be passed over for the Chief's job--remember Sgt. Sam?

My view: all other things being equal, there is more to be gained than lost by bringing new leadership into small town police departments. So, for me, the question is, Are all other things equal?

This is an example of what so often keeps the affe...

2009-09-04T14:59:14.240-04:00

This is an example of what so often keeps the affected politicians from earning the respect that they crave and feel they deserve.

Does Hoath's retirement mean there will be no ...

2009-09-04T14:22:32.669-04:00

Does Hoath's retirement mean there will be no more uninvited green body-painting of his ex-wife on her front porch by Ron and his girlfriend?

Now I know what Mr. Norloch has been working on, I...

2009-09-04T13:18:15.642-04:00

Now I know what Mr. Norloch has been working on, I think.