[Cicero]

There are few things I hate more than scrap metal "art." This stuff is imposed on people all over the country. We once used to put statues in our parks of great heroes and statesmen. If nothing else, at least that's educational, human, and often beautiful. But, please, no scrap metal art.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

How dare you besmirch my god-given talent to weld! *SMIRK *

[50sDad]

Years ago, on the Cincinnati riverfront, we had a 6'x3'x3' limestone block with some minor grooves on it, stacked on two 6' metal girders. The result? "Artwork" that cost $250,000 and was titled "Law and Society."

Such art, I could make.

[VeritatisSplendor]

Hey! I lived in the building pictured there for 4 years and had to walk past that piece of junk every day. Occasionally my dorm-mates would festoon it with various things, but nothing could make it look good.

Did you go to MIT too?

[Mr.Unique]

This sounds like what happened in Carlsbad California in the 90's. Somehow, they paid an artist $350,000 to do a sculture on the Sea Wall. The sculpture ended up being an iron wall that obstructed the view of the ocean. Nobody liked it, but the artist had to agree to have it taken down. After a proper amount of money, she agreed. Some say the payoff was $150,000!

[non-anonymous]

I walked by that particular sculpture many hundreds of times over a number of years, and it never struck me as particularly ugly - just pointless. It certainly doesn't compare to the Great Sail, but then again that has a function.