"Council has identified civic pride initiatives as a priority for the City, and projects like this will only help support that."

Good grief. Civic pride is a priority? I would have thought air quality, pothole fixing and reducing taxes were priorities.

It's a beauty, another waste of money

How much did it cost???

Great, spending more money we don't have, no wait just raise taxes, problem solved.

Yet another example that they just do not get it.

Let the corporations and private business people purchase these. If one wishes to donate to the city for display (as others have done already), terrific! What is going on with these new councillors that campaigned on accountability and restraint??

I think the objective is to have a well-rounded City.

We could be spending less on art, less on roads, less on recreation, less on parks, less on buildings, less on City Staff, less on protection services, less on consultants ... the list is long.

We could also be spending more on that same list.

But we are not. We are spending what we are spending because that is the way the system works. We elect people to make direction decisions for us and to put staff in place to follow those directions.

You are all hitting the wrong people. You should be complaining to those who go to vote and are not voting for the same people you are voting for.
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Should the City have public art. Of course!!!

Is this a good one to spend money on? Of course!

Why? Because part of the money goes to the BC Lions Society for children with disabilities.

THAT is where your taxpayer dollars are going! Anything against giving money to help children with disabilites while receiving a piece of art for display in the city?

Come on! Speak up!

Now, if I may speak to the quality of the art for civic pride purposes.

To me "art" that would promote civic pride should include art that recognizes historic figures and events associated with the City.

Explorers who passed through; the First Nation people who were here before the explorers came; the Europeans who followed to settle the land; people who were visionaries and promoted the region's development.

We have little if any of such "art" in this community. We are not leaving behind where we came from for others to see in the future. What is wrong with us? We are obviously not very proud of WHO we are!!!

The City needs to buy a new Manager. I would favore such expenditure.
Cheers

The City contributed $5,000 to the Eagles in the City Easter Seals campaign in March of 2008. That money "sponsored" the painting of one of the sculptures.

In May of this year, the City agreed to buy one of the eagles for a price of $2,500 which included shipping.

Elaine Macdonald

If they had to buy one why didn't they buy one of the the eagles that were painted by local talent...?
guess they have no pride in our local talent!

I love the Eagles...saw them in Vancouver a couple of weeks ago. The best concert ever.I wish we could get them to PG. Henley, Fry, Walsh and Schmit...wow!

BCRacer ....

The article starts off with: "The City of Prince George has purchased one of the eagles from the BC Lions Society’s "Eagle in the City" program, painted by LOCAL ARTIST and teacher Marc LaCaille."

I know, it's the weekend and your reading comprehension is taking a rest. :-)

One example of public art dealing with local history is the mural of the Pioneers' Memorial in Foundation Park at 7th and Dominion. I think that was built for the Centennial in 1967.

Sorry--I took 3 years of art at UBC. That eagle is not art. That is a fibreglass (or the equivalent) sculpture that has been mass produced with a mold. If it was made in China, it would look more like an eagle, it would have better detail and it would cost about 100 bucks. My personal feelings about mass produced art is not positive.

Yes, you are right. Thank you for reminding me of that.

The setting has already had one change, but the mural has survived. It will survive to see its 50th anniversary. I am not sure that it will survive its 100th anniversary.

The other one is Bridget Moran.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gdraskoy/442525981/sizes/l

Supertech .... now we might have a discussion going. I was wondering whether someone would come in on that aspect.

I, for instance, see it as simple commercial art. Its primary purpose is to generate money. The sculpted, mass produced part is the "canvas" for the essentially two dimensional drawing. Some of the painters have tried to work with the form in a more traditional way, others have almost ignored the form of the "canvas." It is those painters who have made each piece unique.

I think the series from Orca to Spirit Bear, to Eagle represents an era that will likely be short lived. But then, so is lots of art short lived.

I am not sure whether this art elicits much conversation in the communities which have participated with the fundraiser. It seems to me that it is just there as part of the streetscape. I have walked by many in Vancouver. I have yet to see anyone either in Prince George or in Vancouver standing close to one to look at the detail of the painting/decoration.

I think that if they continue this programme, I agree with those who have said that they should try a form that is not itself a version of art, but much more neutral and simpler - a column, a cube, a sphere. That would allow the artist’s work to be front and centre rather than confused by the sculpture.

Maybe we should at least do something local such as Mr. Potato Head in Rhode Island http://www.mrpotatohead.net/statues/statues.html
How about little Mr. PGs? 

These have been seen all over the states: http://www.chicagotraveler.com/cows/98.jpg

If we are to blame anyone, try the Swiss. Zurich, 1986, they had a similar program using Lions which are the official symbol of the City.

Isn’t it fun when one sees a good idea somewhere and it gets copied all over the world? Big Mac come to mind.

wonder how long it will take before someone spraypaints a gang sign on it.

you are right GUS, I should have read a little better, all I saw was it was in Vancouver...

I just thought of another example of sorts: the entryway to the restored Lheidli T'enneh graveyard in Fort George Park. I agree, though, that there are not many examples of such artwork in Prince George.

Another Dan Rogers move to prove his unwavering incompetence. Come on November, 2011 and the next municipal election. Can we find a competent candidate for mayor? Council is full of empty promises as well. We need new blood! How about the audit of the unelected bureaucray that is running up the bills at City Hall that the taxpayers are unfortunately paying.

Hopefully in the next municipal election, Prince George gets some candidates for Mayor and City Council who have the same message as Councillor Rob Ford who is presently running for the Mayor of Toronto. (This election in Toronto occurs this fall).

"It appears Rob Ford is firing on all cylinders. The latest municipal election poll has Councillor Rob Ford now in the lead in the race to replace Toronto Mayor David Miller."

"Ford - who spent last week raging about Councillor Kyle Rae expensing his own retirement reception to his office budget -called the poll proof his message is resonating.

“There is no doubt that Torontonians are fed up with the waste and mismanagement at City Hall,” Ford stated in a campaign press release Sunday night. “My message to the residents of Toronto has been clear - I will clean up the mess.

“On October 25th, when I am elected mayor, my colleagues will have to learn that it’s time to turn off the lights, because the party with taxpayers’ money is over,” Ford stated."

http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandgta/2010/06/13/14375691.html

That should be sent to the Citizen, but in reference to our council. Brian Skakun might make a good mayor. I would vote for him.

Eugene Fetterly for mayor!

There are lots of improvements downtown. Much has changed. I don't know who gets the credit, but Dan Rogers happens to be the Mayor at this time and he will get the criticism or the accolades when they are due.

Whether we purchase an Eagle or a Spirit Bear, I don't think it makes a bit of a difference of what happens in our city. Let's not lose focus on the real issues. Sculptured Bears, Eagles or Fish will not change the attitude, the behavior or the culture of our city.

Did a Councillor in Prince George expense his own retirement reception to his office budget? I did not hear about that. Why was that not in the news?

Hey, wait a minute. Do any of our Councillors have an office to expense anything to?

No? Didn't think so!!!

Things to watch out for in the next PG Civic elections.

1. Candidates who want an office if elected.

Billposer ...... would you include Mr. PG as sculpture? :-)

Please disregard the following phrase which was in my post:

"who spent last week raging about Councillor Kyle Rae expensing his own retirement reception to his office budget."

This phrase has no connection to the City of Prince George.

My apologies to all.

Charles, actually the operative word is "raging" in that sentence and I found it of specific interest.

I did a bit of snooping, and it seems that Mr. Ford does have a rage that is inappropriately expressed, especially for someone who holds public office.

While I agree that we need better performance for our dollar from City Hall, I would not want it from someone of the likes of Mr. Ford. Unless Toronto has changed a lot, I doubt he will be elected as mayor.

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/torontomayoralrace/article/799971--rob-ford-s-complicated-life

from the above: "Did he tell a couple at the Air Canada Centre that the wife should “go to Iran and get raped and shot?”

He says he didn’t, but doesn’t clarify.

In a letter to city hall, they claimed he did.

He apologized.

“That was just stupidity. I feel terrible about it. My wife and I had a little bit too much to drink . . . I made a mistake that will never happen again.”

Right. Not good material for a big city mayor no matter where he stands on Councillor expenditures.