The City of Santa Ana spent millions on the Artists Village, 10 years later – was it worth it?

Anon: This is how it stands. Don Papi Pulido’s minions shut down F.O.B. II. I wrote a blog post challenging artists in SanTana (not just those in the Artists Village) to offer up their gallery and host F.O.B II. To date, I’ve heard of no such gallery. Privately, I’m told artists were outraged at what the city did but didn’t bother to speak out for their own reasons and didn’t want to host F.O.B. II because they didn’t want to attract controversy.

I don’t see where Art ever said F.O.B. II was held in the Artists’ Village. But him tying it to the censorship fiasco is a valid point, and one I also make. If Santa Ana cares so much about the arts and has invested so much money in an Artists’ Village, then it’s perfectly valid to assume a reaction from its denizens on all art-related matters in the city.

The creation of the Village was part of a movement to commercialize the arts through government (Redevelopment) subsidy. The idea is to create an artistic and commercial synergy (sorry) that ends up being a “destination.”

Many bureaucrats and pols who love the abstact idea of “the arts” are keen to innoculate artistic endeavor with government subsidy. When one indulges oneself in this sort of philanthropy, one does not ask for an accounting or expect a monetary dividend. The reward comes in knowing you are helping a process that the great unwashed will never support voluntarily.

Art, expecting any sort of principled protest from a Chamber of Commercized art community is unrealistic. They’ve had their shots against that.

It’s a bad trend. Not only won’t it pay for itself but it immediately converts the artistic impulse into a commercial one. It al

Dr. Lomeli,

“If you say Art Pedroza can not claim there was a peep, then you can not claim that there was a peep.”

LOL. That’s exactly what I said above. Can you not read?

Art’s claim IS an opinion. He simply cannot prove that absolutely NO person associated the Artist’s Village spoke out about the exhibit closure. Neither can you. Neither can I. That makes his claim an opinion.

And your banner example is really quite laughable. Those banners do not tell a person to stop and experience the Artist’s Village at the VAALA Center or any of the other venues you mention, do they?

Gustavo,

So you’ve “been told” that artists (I assume you’re speaking of artists associated with the Artist’s Village) were outraged? Really? And are those people you spoke to able to speak for every other person associated with the Artists Village in such a way that would allow you to conclude that “there was not a peep” from anyone associated with the Artists Village and that no single person expressed said outrage in any manner possible (including kinds that didn’t receive media coverage)?

And Art has very definitely tried to associate the VAALA Center with the Artists Village. He’s tried to link the two, simply by virtue of the fact that they’re in the same city, and within a mile or so from each other.

So what’s better…a downtown full of illegal and poor mexicans or struggling artists that actually have potential and want the area to be nicer…It’s not that hard of an answer.

Hmm, seems to me to be an “issue”. In Gustavo’s blog posting about FOB II, he specifically states that the building it was housed in was NOT zoned to exhibit art. That’s the final legal position the mayor based the closure on. Anything else is purely emotional. Expecting other galleries to host the exhibit eschews that other galleries have time and space (usually) already scheduled for months in advance (it takes time to set up exhibits). That would mean that other artists would have to be shifted from THEIR schedules to accommodate FOB II. Oddly there are always other considerations to public events that preclude a “gut reaction protest” to unfairness.

Anon #12,

Art pedroza stated his opinion. He never presented it saying it was a documented fact. You flew off attacking his opinion.

A banner mentioning a venue has the purpose of suggesting to readers to visit the venue – the Artist Village with it’s many astistic venues not specific galleries or venues. If not why place a manner for the public to notice.

There is advertisement for the Main place without specifcally saying shop at any one store within the Mall – same with the banners that you find laughable.

You seem like a very angry person, chill out.

Dr Lomelli,

“Art pedroza stated his opinion. He never presented it saying it was a documented fact.”

Wrong. Art said “Yet there was not a peep…”. Please explain to me where that statement is not made as if it is fact. This is why I suggested he amend the statement to “As far as I know, there was not a peep…” You’re smart enough to see the difference.

And I’m sorry, but the venues you mention previously are not part of the Artists Village. The only possible relationship you can draw is that they are arts-related. If someone asks you “can you tell me how to get to the Artists Village”? are you going to send them to The Cribb Theater? I’m sorry, but the Artists Village is a very specific destination…not a loose affiliation of “arts” venues.

Gustavo,

Uhh, OK. You talked to some people.

Anon 20,

I am smart enough to take ” yet there was not a peep” as an opinion. Those smarter or less smart can perceive it differently. I am only giving you my opinion.

You atated that the protested art was not associated with the Artist Village because it was far from the AV.

I presented to you that other artist venues are far from the AV but are associated with the AV.

So arguing simply of a disconnection due to distance is not a good argument.

pinche grinogos. callate johnny h pendejo.