Artist Refuses To Fix Misspellings In Library Art

[Kadie]

Artist Refuses To Fix Misspellings In Library Art
Work Displayed In Front Of New Livermore Library

POSTED: 10:03 am PDT October 8, 2004
UPDATED: 10:07 am PDT October 8, 2004

LIVERMORE, Calif. -- The artist who misspelled the names of famous people in world history on a large ceramic mosaic outside Livermore's new library can spell one word with ease: N-O.

That's Maria Alquilar's new position on fixing the typos.

She had planned to fly to California and put the missing "n" back in Einstein and remove the extra "a" in Michelangelo, among other fixes. But after receiving a barrage of what she called "vile hate mail," Alquilar said Livermore is off her travel itinerary and there'll be no changes by her artistic hand.

"No, I will not return to Livermore for any reason," Alquilar, of Miami, told The Associated Press in an e-mail. "There seems to be so much hatred within certain people. They continuously look for a scapegoat. I guess I am the sacrificial goat."

She previously told officials in Livermore, about 40 miles east of San Francisco, that she would fix the 11 misspellings. She asked for $6,000 plus travel expenses to correct the work they paid her $40,000 to create. The city council, faced with the embarrassing prospect of leaving the typo-strewn work in front of its spanking new library, voted 3-2 to approve the expenditure.

more...
http://www.thekcrachannel.com/news/3794217/detail.html


This ordeal is cracking me up.

[NV Whino]

1. How funny

I may even have to drive to Livermore to see it.

[Love Bug]

2. You're not a scapegoat when you actually did it

[denverbill]

3. If I was the library, I think I'd sue her.

If I was her, I'd be so damned embarassed I'd beg them for the opportunity to fix my mistakes as long as they didn't publicly announce my mistakes.

[Ripley]

4. The problem is...

It's not like she made an innocent mistake (like leaving an e off the end of a difficult Italian name or something)...she made repeated STUPID mistakes that only show her low brain wattage.

I agree with you...I would have fixed it before anyone even knew. Didn't she review her own work? She sounds like a prima donna.

[Tempest]

5. The library really wouldn't have a leg to stand on

According to the original story, the library reviewed the work before it was put up against the wall (while it was still on the ground) and they failed to point out the mistakes at that time.

[Atlas Mugged]

6. As an aside....

...I was in Livermore once in my life. The Altamont Raceway is/was there and is where the notorious Rolling Stones concert took place. In spite of all the negative publicity, I had a fantastic time.

[Lisa]

7. why doesn't the library turn this into a fund-raising contest?

They could offer a prize for "the most errors found" with a small fee for each entry ticket. And they could work in a clever ad campaign with "to find out the correct spellings, come inside our building!"

[No2W2004]

8. since it's a mozac

why don't they just say it's "artistic license" and be done with it?

[Ripley]

10. It's not a mozac.

It is a mosaic. And that's crazy..."artistic license" for a piece of artwork that is in front of a learning/education center and is describing historical, factual people.

Spelling Einstein wrong...like Eistein is simply shoddy, sloppy, rushed work on her part or she is illiterate and didn't realize she even spelled it wrong. She was a poor choice to do the piece anyway.

Having said that, I don't understand why the Library didn't review the piece as she was creating it or installing it and fixed it immediately.

[No2W2004]

12. I know it's m o z a i c

I forgot to (sarcasm/off)

sure, it's embarrasing, but why not spend the money on whats inside the library instead?

[Ripley]

14. Um, er, okay...but it's MOSAIC.

Not mozaic! :spank:

[No2W2004]

15. artistic license! artistic license!

me=:dunce:

[lil-petunia]

17. no. TheThought Police have revoked the li-sense.

what a story!

[Ripley]

18. I was gonna use that :dunce:

But thought it was mean, so I spanked instead! Hah!

[ReadTomPaine]

9. Some people feel spelling mistakes are inconsequential.

It may be hard to believe, but I see them every day. Some are quite defensive about it as well.

RTP

[prolesunited]

13. Definite prima donna

From the story:
The mistakes wouldn't even register with a true artisan, Alquilar said before deciding to leave the work as is.

"The people that are into humanities, and are into Blake's concept of enlightenment, they are not looking at the words," she told The AP.

When asked whether she chose the words and names for the work or whether the city provided her with a list, Alquilar took an artistic stance in response.

"The art chose the words," she said.

[Ripley]

16. And they even voted to pay her another $6,000

to fly out there and fix it! Jesusfuckingchrist!

I now know what I'm doing wrong as an artist. I must begin making mozac's (see above) poorly and spell famous people's names wrong. :grr:

She even said she would fix them in the first place and now she is saying it was done on purpose????? She gives artists a bad name.

[ReadTomPaine]

20. I can't imagine how the Head Librarian feels...

.. what a nightmare. There is plenty of blame to go around on this one, however.

RTP

[Ripley]

21. Yes, it seems to be a Catastrophic Success.

:crazy:

[Bossy Monkey]

11. In a related story, Dubya announces his run for mayor of Livermore n/t

[Bluebear]

19. Did you see her 'mural'? It looks like a "dough art" project

Not to denigrate "art" but misspellings aside, it looks soooo juvenile and "homemade" for $40,000.!!

[ReadTomPaine]

22. 'Eistein' looks a bit desperate. He also has a lazy eye!

He wasn't the only one with a lazy eye, it appears.

RTP

[Bluebear]

23. SHAKESPERE! LMAO!!!!

[NV Whino]

24. A word about typos

As a graphic designer for 35+ years, I have made my share of typos.

Why they happen: an artist/designer gets so close to the many details of the work he/she can't see them.

How to prevent them: I personally make the client responsible for the final proofing and have them sign off on it. Mistakes still happen, but not as many and the financial burden of correcting them is then off my shoulders.

How she could have prevented these mistakes: Photograph each section of design and have client sign off on it. Yes, she does give artists a bad name.

[AngryAmish]

25. Easiest answer - She is a twit.

And defiantly proud of her mistakes. Talk about not having any accountability.

[HEyHEY]

26. Fix the fucking names