The South Portlander: Multimedia

I would like to ask Mr. Gailey exactly HOW this project will help the tourism economy. Is he implying people will travel to Maine solely to view this project? (It’s a serious question, Mr. Gailey.)
Why was this announcement held in Portland? Was there no suitable venue in South Portland?
The absence of any representatives from the Maine Arts Commission speaks volumes.

This selection is visually the least interesting of the five, or to put it otherwise, it is the ugliest.  One can only guess that with overwhelming negative public opinion that the MCC decided to choose a person with a portfolio in order to give the contest some sort of legitimacy.  Saatchi and Christies ooh la la this must be something worthwhile.  If true it speaks volumes to the need for Jean Maginnis to put her own reputation and the image of the MCC above what the community will be forced to look on a daily basis. And please this work has nothing to do with street art or graffiti.  It is an insult to the whole concept of using art in the streets in order to reclaim neighborhoods from the influence of outside money and corporate greed. The only thing that it shares with graffiti is that it was committed in the dark with no transparency at all.  Other than that its just advertisement bought and paid for.

Ah, the photo on the Press Herald web site answers my second question - Mercy Hospital provides a comfortable space from which to view the tank farm across the river.

Currently there are 41 comments on the Portland Press Herald website regarding this result, 36 are negative, two positive, and the rest neither one way or the other.  Why does this project get continued coverage as if it were something the region needs or supports?  How about a little investigative journalism rather than endless press releases.  Something is wrong when one person gets a bee in their bun to do something with such high visibility and grave community impact without having to answer to anyone.  Who in their right mind would ever force an entire region to look at something that has on the record been repudiated in overwhelming numbers?  It is remarkable to be witness to such misplace egotism.  Then again it is private property so tough y’all.

This guy is an artist? Apparently he has never grown out of the nineties when it was cool to have flashing backgrounds on your website. His website also does not render in a fashionable manner on any modern browser. This guy gets the “Worst Website Design ‘08” Award.

Congratulations, Senor Gili! (Please note that most of the negative comments flying around have to do with the project and are not a personal attack on your art.)

Sharky, keep in mind that our city manager Jim Gailey also was quoted as saying Claude Morgan was “approachable and accessible to his constituents” which tells us that he really is out of touch with reality.

Jean & MCC, rather than spend over a million dollars on paint, could you please raise money to help local residents like me who will have a hard time heating our homes this winter due to the economy and high oil prices? Thank you.

Should there be a follow up story to this contest as I hope there will, a question that should be considered is whether this entry was chosen for its simplicity in translation on to the oil tanks.  Not only does it appear to be the easiest to execute but perhaps also it would be the cheapest to get done.  Were painting contractors asked their opinion about completing the project?  So many questions remain open that I find it astounding that no journalist has made the slightest attempt to get to the heart of this controversial fiasco.  This would include the near 100% negative public response and the apparent choice of the entry not for its merits but for the artists connection with established art institutions. This is a story that has so much potential for a thorough airing out that the lack of attention to it is becoming a sad commentary on local media.