Editor,
(This letter was also addressed to city managers and Art Commission members.)
I am sending this to you to publish on behalf of artists and to hopefully repair the City of Laguna Beach’s arts management practices.
The day after concerns about my art (a wood palette) were aired at the June 13 Arts Commission meeting that included vice chair’s statement, “if not beyond repair and returned it would be exhibited,” my palette was somehow found quickly and held for me in the Arts Commission staff’s office.
Wow – an astonishing discovery so contrary to concerted assertions that my palette was most likely a victim of a “traffic collision with poles, natural disaster or succumbed to the ‘temporary’ nature of its material.”
The palette was in good condition, but my art suffered many surface scratches showing a lack of care and most alarming, someone else’s hand obviously repainted the last number of the date; both are violations of VARA, the state and federal guidelines protecting artists rights.
This holds significant importance to me as an artist and as former chair of the Arts Commission developing the Laguna Beach guidelines for art in public places because such immediate action was only taken under pressure after decades of inquiry and requests; it is an admission by city staff of ineptness.
I am asking the city of Laguna Beach and Arts Commission to make amends and a public apology for its lack of care and oversight of artists’ work. Hopefully, by example, that will change the way artists and their unique works are treated by this city.
I encourage and welcome other artists to contact me and share their concerns so we can advise and help make positive changes to this city’s art management.
In the meantime, I draw the city’s attention to the handling and rights of artists, the need for transparency and cooperation, education and diligence in curating and managing public art.
Leah Vasquez, Laguna Beach
