Anderson letter: damaging artwork

While visiting the Boise Centre on the Grove this past weekend to view the public art, I was in shock. A group of young boys 11-13 years old were riding their Razor scooter’s up on top of the art sculpture. I asked that they stop explaining that this was a piece of art. Shocked again, the young boy that was riding on the piece of art when I came across them, proceed to tell be that it was OK because his scooter had rubber wheels. I tried to explain to him that this was public art and not meant to be used for riding on top of for his pleasure, and that he would be damaging someone’s artwork, and that it was disrespectful. All I got was backtalk.

What has our society come to? Have we not taught our kids to respect another person’s property? An artist creativity, time, energy, and money have been spend to create this piece of public art for all of us to enjoy and to enhance our lives. It is not a playground for kids to play on. We have a wonderful new skate park just down the street for this exact type of activity.

Melissa S. Anderson, Star

This story was originally published August 29, 2017 at 11:05 PM with the headline "Anderson letter: damaging artwork."