We the following residents and property owners in the City of Hamilton, Ontario reject the proposal to spend $200,000 on an art installation for Victoria Park to commemorate Frankie Venom, the former lead singer of Teenage Head. In no other of the city's Art in Public Places competitions http://www.hamilton.ca/CultureandRecreation/Arts_Culture_And_Museums/Arts/Art-In-Public-Places.htm has the subject of the sculpture for a site been pre-determined. There should be an open process where a range of possible subjects and themes could be presented and discussed. This is the way in which other public art projects have been coordinated - the criteria for sculptures are general to allow artists the opportunity to respond with creative ideas. Public input should be the first step not the last step in the process. Having such constraints imposed upon artists limits the creative potential of the art and its community involvement - ultimately, creating a bias in the decision-making process. Asking for public input as the final step of the art project is an empty gesture at democracy.

The swimming pool in Victoria Park was built in 1973 and is in need of upgrades and repairs. Addressing those needs would be a much more pragmatic way of spending $200,000 of area ratings public money.

You may also voice your concerns by contacting Councillor Brian McHattie at bmchattie@hamilton.ca and/or Ken Coit at ken.coit@hamilton.ca.