Art advice for a Laguna neighbor

The Dana Point City Council shouldn’t even be contemplating spending the $1.45 million that Robert Wyland is demanding for his cement cetacean.

Art in public places is a great idea and obviously revitalizes and beautifies a community. But it should also help provide financial support and incentives to the up-and-coming artists, those who toil, undercompensated, in relative anonymity. This way, they remain in our region and provide us with a more vibrantly diverse group.

As a resident of a city already committed to this concept, Laguna Beach, I know that for $1.45 million you could get 10 pieces in various media from 10 artists in the immediate vicinity. This would not only spread the wealth, it would also mean you would have 10 pieces sprinkled throughout the city, so that the goals of such an endeavor would be truly inspirational and public.

From what Wyland himself says, one can see and hear that it’s about him, not the ocean. He wants to drive by his $1.45 million “cash cow” when in town, and, using a mold for this piece, he could mass-produce it for the other 100 places he vows to approach. So the City of Dana Point could be a major source of retirement funds for this man, already a millionaire.

Finally, as a South County water-quality advocate in the trenches and on the front lines for eight years, I have no knowledge of Wyland’s professed contribution to water quality improvements, as has been stated by Dana Point Mayor Wayne Rayfield. I have begged Wyland innumerable times to contribute to the volunteer beach cleanup programs we administer for the Coastal Commission here in Laguna Beach this past six years, and he just laughs at us.

Which is exactly what he will do if the Dana Point City Council grants him his cement promotional device. He’ll chuckle all the way to the bank!

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Should cities “spread the wealth” by purchasing more small art pieces from local artists? Write us at P.O. Box 248, Laguna Beach, CA, 92652, e-mail us at coastlinepilot@latimes.com or fax us at 494-8979. Please give your name and tell us your home address and phone number for verification purposes only.

* Roger Von Butow founded the Clean Water Now Coalition Laguna Beach in 1998.