State Dept on back foot over $1 mln sculpture

Yahoo News ^

[bryan999]

Washington (AFP) - The US State Department on Friday fended off criticism for commissioning a $1 million sculpture for its London embassy, saying it was "a good use of our limited resources."

The piece by Irish-born artist Sean Scully was purchased as part of the department's Art in Embassies program and will be reportedly installed at the new mission due to open in 2017.

"This piece was purchased under the market price after considerable negotiation with both the artist and the gallery. This is an important part of our diplomatic presence overseas," deputy State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said.

Abstract artist Scully, who became an American citizen in 1983, lives in New York and has twice been nominated for the prestigious Turner Prize.

The Art in Embassies program had "played a leading role in US public diplomacy" for the past 50 years, Harf said.

"Where we can promote cross-cultural understanding... we think that's a good use of our limited resources," Harf told journalists.

[AbnSarge]

The portrayal of the central government in the “Hunger Games” makes more and more sense

[SZonian]

"Where we can promote cross-cultural understanding..."

IF, and that's a big if, that is the intent, then the "artist" (preschooler playing with blocks) can DONATE the damned piece of garbage instead of raping the American taxpayer!