23 April 2013

And then there were two. Why we can't have nice things

| johnboy
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street art

“On the Staircase” by Keld Moseholm has been a favourite piece of public art on Petrie Plaza for some time.

It’s such a pity it was not built to withstand the mindless fury of the Canberra public.

Where once four little men created an exercise in perspective we’re now down to two.

It seems like a real pity.

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Gungahlin Al3:10 pm 25 Apr 13

damien haas said :

2604 said :

Gungahlin Al said :

For Pete’s sake, can’t you leave your Labor-hating spin at the door for ANY topic?

That’s a bit rich Al. I wish I had a dollar for every time you’ve mentioned Tony Abbott and the perils of an Abbott-led government on this forum.

gungahlin al abbott site:the-riotact.com = 205 results = $205.

Good one Damien. So every thread I’ve made a comment in where Abbott is also mentioned counts as a mention BY me? Have a squiz back through your search results.

2604: It’s all about the context. This is a thread about vandalism of public art. “City administrators” were blamed, who last time I looked were the relevant MLAs. Masquara then clarified she intended that to mean public servants rather than MLAs. Fair enough. Then she attributed a comment made by NoImRight to me and went on an attack. “Unhinged”? Please.
It goes to track record, exhibit A: http://the-riotact.com/the-great-civic-40-zone-unveiled/101605/comment-page-2#comment-473155

But the revelation that the piece wasn’t designed for open use is interesting and if it can’t be modified to make it vandal resistant then it certainly should be relocated. It isn’t like there aren’t plenty of art pieces in City Walk anyway. It’s getting so you can’t read your Twitter feed while walking without cracking your shin on something…

For the record, for the two public art pieces to which I had design input (the Bunyip and the rocky outcrop both in Gungahlin), being able to be climbed all over and still not be prone to damage were principle concerns. I’ve seen far too much damage done to great art pieces made of poor material choices like glass or sandstone. Arts budgets are constrained enough as is, without them being sucked up by expensive repairs.

JazzyJess said :

I wouldn’t discount a very determined bogan from ruining any of the public artworks around Canberra. Didn’t someone steal one of the sheep a few years ago? Those things are bolted to the ground and it still wasn’t safe.

Yep. They stole a forklift (or something similar), drove it into Civic and made off with a sheep.

c_c™ said :

Wonder what they’re made of and is it conductive.

Bronze. Should conduct pretty well. Although the kids who climb on it wouldn’t be too impressed.
The bronze is also (supposedly) the reason it keeps getting stolen. It’s easy to melt and re-sell. Although the little fat men are so adorable that wouldn’t be surprised if they’re kept as garden ornaments.

Leaving aside Gungahlin Al’s unmeasured – if not unhinged – responses, I maintain that any city administrator with a modicum of common sense would have removed the sculpture the FIRST time the small figure was stolen, and would have put it in a more secure, while public, space. It has been simply bizarre watching this happen over the last year or so – particularly as it’s such a loveable work.

c_c™ said :

Wonder what they’re made of and is it conductive. Surely wouldn’t be hard to wire it up with some current, nothing deadly just enough to make extended contact unpleasant even to a drunk began impressing their mates by stealing.

Trouble is that it probably wouldn’t stop the arseholes from resorting to roundhouse kicks(Chuck Norris style) to knock the smaller humans off the staircase or whacking it with a small sledgehammer!

2604 said :

Gungahlin Al said :

For Pete’s sake, can’t you leave your Labor-hating spin at the door for ANY topic?

That’s a bit rich Al. I wish I had a dollar for every time you’ve mentioned Tony Abbott and the perils of an Abbott-led government on this forum.

Back on topic, this is a fantastic piece of artwork. But it is obviously far too susceptible to damage / theft / vandalism to be kept in Garema Place, which is often all but deserted in the middle of the night and therefore an ideal place for thieves/vandals to strike.

It should be moved to a public building (somewhere like the Civic Library), where people can admire it during the day, but where it’s safely locked away at night.

An excellent suggestion. Even putting it in that nice square between the Assembly and the CMAG would keep it out of the average drunkards stagger route.

2604 said :

Gungahlin Al said :

For Pete’s sake, can’t you leave your Labor-hating spin at the door for ANY topic?

That’s a bit rich Al. I wish I had a dollar for every time you’ve mentioned Tony Abbott and the perils of an Abbott-led government on this forum.

gungahlin al abbott site:the-riotact.com = 205 results = $205.

Gungahlin Al said :

For Pete’s sake, can’t you leave your Labor-hating spin at the door for ANY topic?

That’s a bit rich Al. I wish I had a dollar for every time you’ve mentioned Tony Abbott and the perils of an Abbott-led government on this forum.

Back on topic, this is a fantastic piece of artwork. But it is obviously far too susceptible to damage / theft / vandalism to be kept in Garema Place, which is often all but deserted in the middle of the night and therefore an ideal place for thieves/vandals to strike.

It should be moved to a public building (somewhere like the Civic Library), where people can admire it during the day, but where it’s safely locked away at night.

Gungahlin Al said :

Masquara said :

.

I believe you’re referring to a comment that I did not make. Now you were talking about ignorance?

That is Masquara’s special subject.

Gungahlin Al8:52 pm 24 Apr 13

Masquara said :

NoImRight said :

Masquara said :

Gungahlin Al said :

Masquara said :

Cannot overemphasise the crassness of our city administrators. Letting this happen is just not cool.

For Pete’s sake, can’t you leave your Labor-hating spin at the door for ANY topic?

Bizarro knee-jerk response. The public servants don’t change with a change of government, Gungahlin Al.

So make the link between why public servants are crass and how its their fault this has happened?

Well, Gungahlin Al, you clearly don’t know anything about how the officials responsible for publicly owned art need to work to protect valuable objects! They’ve failed the most basic requirement there. Displaying your ignorance there, while being unnecessarily abusive and introducing an, er, “red” herring.

I believe you’re referring to a comment that I did not make. Now you were talking about ignorance?

NoImRight said :

Masquara said :

Gungahlin Al said :

Masquara said :

Cannot overemphasise the crassness of our city administrators. Letting this happen is just not cool.

For Pete’s sake, can’t you leave your Labor-hating spin at the door for ANY topic?

Bizarro knee-jerk response. The public servants don’t change with a change of government, Gungahlin Al.

So make the link between why public servants are crass and how its their fault this has happened?

Well, Gungahlin Al, you clearly don’t know anything about how the officials responsible for publicly owned art need to work to protect valuable objects! They’ve failed the most basic requirement there. Displaying your ignorance there, while being unnecessarily abusive and introducing an, er, “red” herring.

Ben_Dover said :

KB1971 said :

Ben_Dover said :

Soon as I get a chance I’m knocking off the owl/penis for my garden.

Make sure you use protection…….

‘Course I’ll use protection. I’ll take a mate.

Constable Plod: Oi, Mr Ben Dover, where are you going with that??
Mr Ben Dover: Im just waiting for a mate………..

KB1971 said :

Ben_Dover said :

Soon as I get a chance I’m knocking off the owl/penis for my garden.

Make sure you use protection…….

‘Course I’ll use protection. I’ll take a mate.

Ben_Dover said :

Soon as I get a chance I’m knocking off the owl/penis for my garden.

Make sure you use protection…….

NoImRight said :

Masquara said :

Gungahlin Al said :

Masquara said :

Cannot overemphasise the crassness of our city administrators. Letting this happen is just not cool.

For Pete’s sake, can’t you leave your Labor-hating spin at the door for ANY topic?

Bizarro knee-jerk response. The public servants don’t change with a change of government, Gungahlin Al.

So make the link between why public servants are crass and how its their fault this has happened?

Because … “gummint bad liberal good” is my guess.

Soon as I get a chance I’m knocking off the owl/penis for my garden.

If Weeds has taught us anything (and I believe it has) it’s that one should never steal public art visible from space.

Masquara said :

Gungahlin Al said :

Masquara said :

Cannot overemphasise the crassness of our city administrators. Letting this happen is just not cool.

For Pete’s sake, can’t you leave your Labor-hating spin at the door for ANY topic?

Bizarro knee-jerk response. The public servants don’t change with a change of government, Gungahlin Al.

So make the link between why public servants are crass and how its their fault this has happened?

Gungahlin Al said :

Masquara said :

Cannot overemphasise the crassness of our city administrators. Letting this happen is just not cool.

For Pete’s sake, can’t you leave your Labor-hating spin at the door for ANY topic?

Bizarro knee-jerk response. The public servants don’t change with a change of government, Gungahlin Al.

Kalfour said :

Most public artworks are commissioned as public artworks, and are designed to withstand weather and bogans.
Unfortunately, this particular piece was bought already made, and put in a public place despite not being designed for it.
If this had been a commissioned work, the artist would have been responsible for repair costs, due to not designing it to withstand public abuse.
They’ve replaced the little men at least once, with additional steel reinforcements. They also added a CCTV camera, which caught the two vandals who destroyed it AGAIN on camera.
Last I heard, they were planning to move it to a safer location.

I wouldn’t discount a very determined bogan from ruining any of the public artworks around Canberra. Didn’t someone steal one of the sheep a few years ago? Those things are bolted to the ground and it still wasn’t safe.

chow said :

At least one of the thefts were while the tents were set up for beer and meat on a stick day, blocking the CCTV camera.

Hm, kind of dents my theory this is drunk yahoos. That sounds like it was planned. Is there really a black market for little fat figurines? I just don’t get some people.

Deref said :

Wire them up with 10kV. Problem solved.

even a small electric fence would do the job. Get it to trigger the shock when it senses a vibration.

At least one of the thefts were while the tents were set up for beer and meat on a stick day, blocking the CCTV camera.

Gungahlin Al12:09 am 24 Apr 13

Masquara said :

Cannot overemphasise the crassness of our city administrators. Letting this happen is just not cool.

For Pete’s sake, can’t you leave your Labor-hating spin at the door for ANY topic?

ArthurianFish10:46 pm 23 Apr 13

Masquara said :

Cannot overemphasise the crassness of our city administrators. Letting this happen is just not cool.

How are city administrators to blame for people being destructive twats? It’s not like they made a big ol’ sign saying “HEY GUYS COME DESTROY OUR ART PLEASE”

Cannot overemphasise the crassness of our city administrators. Letting this happen is just not cool.

FXST01 said :

Could replace the missing ones with a Raptor.

That would certainly be an interesting look! Would have been better if the Raptor was at the back.

But… but… but… You’ve got no idea how good these look as replacement hood ornaments on my Kenworth and my Mercedes?!

Deref said :

Wire them up with 10kV. Problem solved.

Are you serious!!! Have you seen the cost of electricity lately?

appalling mindless cretins

Wire them up with 10kV. Problem solved.

Wonder what they’re made of and is it conductive. Surely wouldn’t be hard to wire it up with some current, nothing deadly just enough to make extended contact unpleasant even to a drunk began impressing their mates by stealing.

I still have the police media release in my inbox. It has photos of the vandals.
I can upload them if people are interested and tell me how.

Most public artworks are commissioned as public artworks, and are designed to withstand weather and bogans.
Unfortunately, this particular piece was bought already made, and put in a public place despite not being designed for it.
If this had been a commissioned work, the artist would have been responsible for repair costs, due to not designing it to withstand public abuse.
They’ve replaced the little men at least once, with additional steel reinforcements. They also added a CCTV camera, which caught the two vandals who destroyed it AGAIN on camera.
Last I heard, they were planning to move it to a safer location.

Could replace the missing ones with a Raptor.

This makes me sad 🙁 I really like those fellas! I loved the beanies someone knitted for them last winter too, hooray for art like this and boo to cretins who have to ruin it.

It’s been down to 2 for the best part of a year. Obviously there is no way to make it vandal-proof so they’re leaving it like that…

It’s down-sizing, when one goes on long service leave or retires, they don’t replace them.

It is my favourite also after behind the eagles in New Acton.

Such a shame that mindless vadals just ruin things like this and I daresay indicitive of the downfall of what was once a popular public space.

Always wondered what they’re meant to represent?
Well done bogan trash of Canberra for ruining it for everyone else!

🙁 another one

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