Letter to the Editor: Airport Art Doesn't Help Artists

In the midst of the worst recession to hit Cape Cod since the Great Depression, I am shocked and disappointed to find that the Executive Director, Mr. Kevin M. Howard of the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod is actually supporting the Barnstable Hyannis Airport Commission’s “Art at the Airport Project.”

With no funds currently available for commissioned artwork, our local professional artists are therefore encouraged to either donate or to loan artwork for display purposes only.

However, each artist must assume liability for work displayed which is valued over $1,500.00. Why should local professional artwork be displayed for the sole benefit of a for-profit business which is publically funded?

“Exploitation” by any other name is still exploitation, and by his support of such an ill-conceived project, Mr. Howard shows how clueless he is of what it actually takes daily for our local professional artists to survive and to find the wherewithal to create. Would he ask the architect and general contractor to donate their expertise also?

If the Arts Foundation and the Barnstable Municipal Airport Commission purports to be so proud of our local professional artists, and are serious about obtaining local artwork of “originality and high quality” then they should find the funds necessary to pay for this high quality artwork and to have it permanently installed.

Lacking such vision, of course, the Airport Commission could always sound the call for undergraduate student and amateur artists to come forth. 

Pierre Blume

Barnstable