June 17, 2005

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Palo Alto Online

Arts commissioner mired in controversy -- again

by Bill D'Agostino

This month, Korean artist Kang Hong Seok is visiting Palo Alto to create public artwork involving bright silkworms and torn pages of Korean phone books.

It had been hoped Kang's trip, which will culminate on July 1 with the artwork's unveiling in City Hall, would be the first in a series of foreign artists visiting the city. But following a behind-the-scenes flap involving the artist's payment, Public Art Commission Chair Gerald Brett said he would cease shepherding similar future projects involving German and Taiwanese artists.

"I'm not going to allow this to happen again and it's a shame," said Brett, who is no stranger to controversy and said he will probably not reapply for the commission when his term expires next year.

The complex tale leading to the latest bitter words began last year when the commission approved Kang's project with the requirement that outside funding be found for it.

Brett, the celebrated mover and shaker behind much of the city's outré public art collection, enlisted a Korean company, Samsung, to sponsor the artist and pay the needed $10,000.

But controversy arose in April when a Samsung representative asked Brett where the first $5,000 check should be sent. Brett insists he asked city staff for advice, and staff responded saying it should be sent to the city.

City officials say that exchange never happened.

"They are very firm that they were not consulted on this and they would have not authorized it," Assistant City Manager Emily Harrison said.

However, Brett sent a email to the Weekly, dated April 15, where Arts Center Director Linda Craighead advised Brett to have the check sent to the city.

Samsung did so in May; at first city officials didn't think it would be a problem. Upon further research, however, administrators learned that due to complex tax laws involving foreign nationals, the artist would have lost 30 percent of the funds if it went through the city. Officials decided to return the funds to Samsung.

When Brett learned that was happening, he asked Harrison and City Council members for help via e-mail.

"All the goodwill generated from this event is in jeopardy," he wrote on June 9. "It's turned into a huge embarrassment."

Community Services Director Richard James sent an e-mail to Harrison later that day complaining that Brett "has once again, taken city process into his own hands."

In an interview, James insisted Brett moved too fast for the proper city process, getting ahead of city administrators. But James also politely attributed the disagreement to Brett's passion for his volunteer post.

"He has, in a way, guided much of what Palo Alto has in public art," James said.

Along with that positive reputation, though, Brett has also increasingly attracted a harsh spotlight.

Last year, Brett blamed former Palo Alto Arts and Culture Director Leon Kaplan for the destruction of the first incarnation of Digital DNA, an egg-shaped artwork recently installed in Lytton Plaza. Brett argued Kaplan was delaying the project because he favored a second, private plan for the plaza. Kaplan called him paranoid. The artwork was destroyed in a warehouse fire.

Later in the year, Kaplan shot back, accusing Brett and other commissioners of being too cozy with artist Marta Thoma, whose latest work is being installed in Bowden Park.

And earlier this year, a city attorney chided the commission for letting other groups who donate money have an equal say in the commission's votes, a practice Brett defended by saying he felt a "dual loyalty."

Like in the past, the newest hullabaloo baffles Brett, who agreed to pay Kang from his own pocket until Samsung's money can be sent directly to the artist.

"I don't know what line I overstepped," Brett said. "To me, it's just a very disheartening, demoralizing experience."

Staff Writer Bill D'Agostino can be e-mailed at bdagostino@paweekly.com.

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