Sacramento Artist Furious Millions Of Dollars For Arena Art Going To New York City Artist
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — A local artist is fired up over the Sacramento Arts Commission's public art pick for the Sacramento Kings downtown arena.
CBS13 first reported on the world-famous Jeff Koons' sculpture called Coloring Book that could could soon stand in Downtown Plaza.
Terrence Martin is a Sacramento artist with big ideas and a fiery passion for sculpture. He's recently been commissioned to build a giant molecule as a piece of public art that will stand at the center of Silicon Valley. He has lots of clients, including the Kings.
But he hasn't been hired by Sacramento.
"It makes me feel like my own city is abandoning me," he said.
Sacramento is choosing a $7.5 million sculpture to stand in front of the arena by Koons. The City Council will vote on the recommendation made by the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission.
"It should be called SMAC for a reason, because for guys like me, it's a SMAC in the face," Martin said.
He says all the public arts money should stay local.
"To see this money be given to a New York City artist, who already is so highly compensated its ridiculous, it makes me feel hopeless," he said.
A spokesperson for the arts commission said in an email that the package includes $1.5 million for local artists: "The focus for selection is to choose the best work possible, not discriminating by region."
"It really is sad and it really does feel like your city is letting you down," Martin said.