Opinion by NIT Publisher Matt Marquardt –
I’ve come around on the sculptures.
They are “OK”.
We are on our third go-around with these downtown “Cultural Crescent” sculptures now. The “seed money” ponied up by you and me to help Chamber of Commerce Queen and city key holder Robin Anderson get this project off the ground is now gone. I still disagree with the taxpayers’ money going into it; she should have raised the seed money privately. The business owners on “Welfare Row” (Moorman, Lala, Anderson, others) that benefit the most from the sculptures could have kicked in the cash instead of backdooring the rest of us to pay for their art attraction. I will never appreciate dirty politics, freeloaders or cheaters.
That being said, I know the sculptures help the rest of the downtown area; it draws some people in. They make the Cultural Crescent somewhat more interesting during the day. And I’m all about a prosperous Mason City as a whole; and therein lies my sticking point: The rest of the city is largely ignored while the downtown is coddled.
But, I digress.
The sculptures look good. Robin seemed kookier than some of the drunks stumbling around town when I saw her first round of sculptures. The red dice were a nightmare and really seemed to promote the nasty vice of gambling. It was like rubbing the town’s face in the fact that we got no casino, but Northwood did, and now they are the ones squabbling over the millions we will never see (thank you, Bible-thumping hypocrites, for the extra nail in Mason’s coffin).
Now that the sculptures are mostly bronze/metallic, they seem classier, kinda cool to look at.
I had a brief chat with one of the volunteers this morning who was helping install the last of this year’s sculptures. She told me how hard she and other volunteers are working to get them installed and look good. And I respect that hard work. People with jobs, or who are retired and contribute/volunteer, are to be admired. If only some of our elected leaders could set such an example.
So, I say, onward and upward with the sculptures; it is a worthwhile endeavor. Just don’t ask me for more cash for welfare row.
10 thoughts on “Opinion: Sculptures are OK”
I just wanted to say thank you for the article like this. It is encouraging to see a positive article on this site!
Matt, I really like the fact that your negativity about the downtown has been toned down substantially. I think kudos are due you because the people who oppose you (and have been the objects of your criticism) are trying their best to prove you wrong about Mason City. You should get plenty of credit for some of the positive changes taking place. Thank you, and stay positive!
It’s also true that this group of sculptures is just plain better. No big spiders, no dice, no duplication of donkey statues or ridiculous-looking giant toy boats. More emphasis on music for the Music Man’s town and less on somebody’s idea of “whimsical.”
Actually, there is one dice… it is across the street from city hall, where the red dice sculpture used to sit. But, it looks WAY better than the old one.
@Matt-To be honest I find some of the sculptures interesting and can appreciate the work the artist has done. I don’t like the way they were brought in but that is not the artist fault.
Matt – Your endorsement is honest and perceptive, backhanded though it may be. I know the art is not to everyone’s taste, but that’s an impossible standard. Keep up the good work.
I drove around and looked at what you call art, sculptures ?
Sorry but they all like junk to me. It also makes the downtown look like a junkyard.
If that kind of stuff wants to be displayed then Robin Anderson should have taken Max Weaver’s lead and found a lot to put them on all in one place.
This garbage sitting on the sidewalk is just another obstacle to walk around, clean up around, and makes snow removal more difficult.
Who cares what Robin thinks. She better not slip some of OUR money into buying herself some real pearls. She’s pretty much tacky.Course it is Iowa mentality, we are a tad slow and out dated with culture and trends. Except for the Z garden. Most cool cities have exactly that. I said before…the NORTH end is still on their resume…they live in this town with the same north end as all of us. Put some money there Robin. Think of other people for once in your life.
I’ve gotten to where I like the statues. And I agree, as long as public money is spent for them.
Robin always knew you would come around to her way of thinking. Great minds think alike you know.