What you saw in Central Park were New Yorkers and tourists and people with enough money to travel to NYC. That's a relatively small percentage of the population. You'd see the same people in the Met on a Sunday afternoon.
The idea of something without utility that is also costly is offensive to most people. They view it as either a scam or a waste of money. The idea of spending $10,000 on a piece of art for themselves -- a relatively modest sum -- is offensive to most people, unless that piece of art increases in value.
I saw a lot of people who did not look wealthy to me, plus how much does it really cost to come visit NYC. I think it's in the reach of most Americans.
The idea of something without utility that is also costly is offensive to most people. They view it as either a scam or a waste of money. The idea of spending $10,000 on a piece of art for themselves -- a relatively modest sum -- is offensive to most people, unless that piece of art increases in value.
They spent 10 times the amount of money on the inaguration which lasted only a few hours. Were you or most Americans offended by that also? I would bet that the Freeper who bought the Christo sketch in the thread above knows how much his sketch has appreciated in value. That being said, who ever said most art that you can buy costs $10,000?