Respect My Authoritah!

Says Encinitas Taliban enforcer Richard Phillips to artist Bryan Snyder who brought us Kook Van Gogh. Click on over and read Snyder's excellent rebuttal.

In the letter sent to Snyder Art referring to the transforming of the Kook into Van Gogh, Richard Phillips proclaims that the statue was vandalized. As seen in a series of photos documenting the techniques and materials used during the installation, no adhesive or paint of any sort were affixed to the statue. All props were hung or attached by non-evasive wire with the purpose of eliminating all chances of damage and easy removal.

Phillips continues to inform the public art program was established to “respect cultural heritage, promote artistic development and add dignity and beauty to public spaces of the city of Encinitas. Is it wrong to credit the Kook and all its creative, imaginative and widely supported reworkings for not only abiding within the city objectives, but also advocating them[?] Each installation is a commentary on local and national current and cultural events. It has promoted a slew of artistic installations and it continues to encourage the development of a more artistic community. Most importantly, it has transformed a public art embarrassment into something enjoyed, applauded and sought.

Let's hope Snyder continues to delight us with creative art -- but next time, he won't be able to take credit.

P.S. Did you know that the city spends $127,000 a year for a public art administrator? Plus $22,000 a year for contracts and services, materials and supplies? It's right there on page 70 of the budget. We've got world-class local artists like Mark Patterson and Bryan Snyder turning out great public and private art and we're paying some joker $127,000 for government art? What have you gotten for the half million dollars you've given this guy over the past four years? The Kook put up and the Madonna torn down. How about we cut out the government art and start maintaining bike paths and roads?