Cowra councillor Bruce Miller has hit out at Cowra Regional Art Gallery Director, Brian Langer, following comments made in a report presented to council.
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In noting the minutes of Gallery Advisory Committee's meeting from March, Cr Miller expressed concerns over a number of remarks made by Mr Langer in regards to the Sculpture Park near the Cowra Japanese Garden.
"We're very excited to have made the arrangements, which were led by the Gallery Director regarding the sculptures, most of which have now been installed up in the sculpture park under the auspices of the Public Art Committee," Cr Miller said.
"Whilst I am reluctant to be seen as being a little bit critical, a couple of the items that were mentioned in the Gallery Director's report did concern me."
In particular, Cr Miller took aim at the fact that Mr Langer said he had "designed and located" two "new concrete slabs/display stands" in the park in February.
"I wonder whether that's correct or not or what expertise the Gallery Director may have had as far as designing a concrete slab for a start," he said.
"I just wonder whether that's correct? If that is correct, that would concern me that the gallery director is involved in designing concrete slabs."
Mr Miller also took issue with what he believes is a lack of consultation with the Public Art Committee concerning the movement of a replacement sculpture.
In his report, Mr Langer wrote, "The substituted replacement work is smaller than the proposed donation and does not suit the openness of the Cowra Sculpture Park. After consulting with the MU Gallery curator it was agreed I could find an alternative site - possibly the Garden in front of the Cowra Library".
"The second part I think is more concerning, and it's where one of the sculptures was deemed to be too small for up in Sculpture Park and I understand that, but I would have thought that at the least the Public Art Committee would have at least been advised that we needed to find an alternative arrangement or spot for that sculpture and that again has not been forthcoming at all," Cr Miller said.
"When I read this, it was the first I was made aware of that, that I think is a concern going forward. If we are going to have a council committee to oversee and to look at all these activities around public art, we should be included."
Cr West agreed with Cr Miller's concerns and questioned whether or not stakeholders involved in the site, such as the Cowra Japanese Garden board and Cowra Rotary Club, were notified.
"The proposal of the sculpture park came out of the Japanese Garden board because of the sculptures they had and got picked up and run by yourself and members of the Public Art Committee," Cr West said.
"The arboretum is something also established by Rotary many years ago and I just wonder if they've had any conversations about what's been happening as well."
