Dumfoonert of Drumsleet

As some of you may be aware there has been a running spat in Dumfries and Galloway Standard following  the installation of Will Levi Marshall's Myndin the Fuird which has fallen victim to the current fearmongering over spending on culture.
New Commonty member Phil Stein wrote to the Standard to express a refreshing and unusual take on the value of public art. Unfortunately for reasons of veracity the editor refused to publish his missive. We at the Commonty are delighted to welcome Phil's contribution to the debate.

Sir, on behalf of the good people of Dumfries and Galloway I wish to
applaud your correspondent who soundly excoriated artist Will Levi
Marshall in last week’s Standard, under the heading, 'Art defense is
nonsense'. How very dare these so-called-artists spend public money
trying to ‘improve’ our cultural landscape, particularly in a time of
dire poverty when children are near starving and the lame and indolent
are forced to beg on these very street corners that Mr Marshall would
have beautified?

I for one, believe we must start removing all traces of culture and
creativity from our streets and landscapes, melt the metal down and
sell it to the nearest scrap merchant. Then we’d better make a start
on those so-called writers and poets who have nothing better to do
than invent stories and rhymes! I suggest a period pushing a broom
through our manky streets will soon cleanse them of this ‘creativity’
bug. There are far too many references and monuments to that failed
farmer Burns, although the big monument to him was paid for by public
subscription perhaps we should pull that down and sell it on to some
of those misguided gullible tourists who are forever littering up our
streets, roads, hotels, restaurants, caravan parks, B&B’s and
countryside.

Yes, an end to culture and creativity, we don’t need beauty or thought
in our lives when there’s important whinging to do.

Phil Stein