Two local artists came before the Cortez City Council on Tuesday to express dismay over the city’s call for artists to “loan” their works to beautify the new City Hall.
Sonja Horoshko said the city pays for construction, electrical work, plumbing, and vehicle maintenance and it is “a form of economic discrimination” to ask artists to do their work for free. Barbara Grist said artists are continually asked to donate items to decorate public spaces. She and Horoshko suggested the city instead lease art works or provide exhibition space inside City Hall.