Mike
Public works of art enhance the aesthetics of the island and are an important part of our cultural identity. Whether or not an individual likes or dislikes a particular piece is fairly irrelevant as long as the work is of good quality and long lasting.
simone
to disagree with everyone i love art and these sculpters of art it is fun interesting and though the money cud have been spent eleswhere on more better things i do very much like those lovely sculpters of jersey cows and those in liberation square the tree would look lovely at christmas decorated in christmas twinkle lights by jersey council and a great place to put your xmas decorations lights and trimmings on a christmas or if u havent got a washing line a great place to hang ur washing out to dry
GGG
u guys need to get out more
live! LIVE!
kez
i think it makes the island dull and i see nothing interesting and good about it what so ever! you could have easily put something much better in its place to comemerate the liberation... y a tree?
STEEVEEE
I HATE THAT STUPID BOG TURNED INTO A CAFE IN BROAD STREET, HOW DISGUSTINGLY
UNHYGIENIC HOPE IT SHUTS FOREVER PLEASE!!!!!!!!
Elleen
Can you really call this art? Frankly I think a lot of it is just half-hearted and pants. What the HELL do we want a bronze tree for? I mean a real tree I can understand; the waterfront is so bare and lifeless, but its more metal.
If we want to get a message across, why dont we try something that will touch people as opposed to something we're told is moving and important?
Frankly I can think of much better things to do with half a million pounds.
Matt
Steam clock, Needle, frog...How much more tax payers money needs to be wasted on this rubbish. Stop squeezing money we can't afford out of us for these stupid projects.
Anthony Fry
Visit jambojersey.com
Before you open your mouth
you must open your eyes
you must join the peace regime
you must praise the states of jersey.
Decade by Decade
The 20th century,Issues/Events/Style/Agony.
Remember the holocaust.
"The tree is there to remind us all"
Lisa
I really don't like the tree. I think that it looks ugly, costs way to much (money that could have been used possibly for a usefull charity, and its so pointles! Why not just plant a nice normal tree there, at least then that would be good for the environment. This tree uses up usefull recources of material. In my opinion the jersey states people are using the islands money to a pointless use, it could be used for much more important things.
Holly Sampson
I support placing art in public places. This allows those who otherwise would not get the chance to experience these works and it encourages creative thought.
Alison
Waste of money.
How about employing a permanent cardiology consultant instead.
Ali D.
Much as I like sculptures in public places, they have to be pleasing to the eye and more importantly, with very few exceptions, not paid for by tax payers' money.
The true test of whether the tree sculpture has any merit would have been to submit the original proposal for voluntary public or corporate donations.
While I like the Wests Centre cows, the Liberation square sculpture and the dolphins, the oak tree is hideous, the obelisk is meaningless and in a near invisible setting and neither have any significant relevance to anything the public care about - despite the claims of those who supported it.
Finally, with reference to the tree sculpture, one of my colleagues lives in the Albert Pier flats and because of the obelisk being erected right in front of his home, he had an interest in the oak tree proposal. He gate crashed a semi-private presentation of this proposal given by its creator to the sculpture trust and arts trust luminaries a year or two before it was erected and came away with the impression that far from being a specially commissioned design, it was an idea he had been playing around with for some time and was just looking for some 'mugs' to buy it.
Alexis M
I think the tree is beautiful and deserves a little bit more respect. I think the money is better spent on the tree than some other things the state pays for.
Julie
How tall is it? Just right for some person to hang themselves from and then it really will be a symbol of the debt that the powers that be are pushing us all into.
treeghugger
i love the tree im gonna join green peace NOT !!
CHRISTINA NAGILLAIRA
LOOKS LIKE METHUSULA TO ME.
YOU KNOW THAT MYTHICAL CREATURE WITH SNAKES COMING OUT OF HER HEAD.
christina
i feel that the money spent on all these statues could be used for much better causes such as hospital equipment and school resourses, i think that the steam clock was a waste of money as it doesnt represent anything important, the money used for this could could have been used towards the enviroment and more important matters.
Florence
A real tree would provide enough oxygen for two people for the rest of their lives.
Treelover
Why not a real tree, less expencive, better for the environment and will probally be around a lot longer than this one!
DON LE FLU
AH BI-CRI FRED,WHO CARES.
I THINK IT,S YOU WHO NEEDS TO GET OUT MORE AND GET A SENSE OF HUMOUR.
SPLASH SOME CASH AND HAVE SOME FUN,FUN FUN.
fred
as don le flu says this is a bit of fun i think he should really get out more, this is not fun its the publics taxes going down the drain
billy
i think that public art is good although the recent tree at the waterfront has little meaning and is a eye saw this is a complete waste of money and time and spoils the view at the water front
"DON LE FLU"
HELLO M,LUVIES,
IM IN THE FOR CAMP.
I LOVE THE TREE AND FIND IT RATHER "CUTSEY"AS FOR THE CUCKOO CLOCK,A GREAT WAY TO LET OF SOME STEAM,THE FROG REMINDS YOU OF THE LOCALS A BIT "CRACKED"BUT HARMLESS FUN IM SURE.
LETS FACE IT YOU CAN,T TAKE IT WITH YOU,IM SURE SOME OF YOU WILL TRY THOUGH.
PERSONALLY SPEAKING THOUGH THEESE"ORNAMENTS"ARE JUST A BIT OF HARMLESS FUN,FIND A SENSE OF HUMOUR YOU LOT & STOP GOING ON ABOUT MONEY ALL THE TIME,YOU GET ON MY BLOODY NERVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!
laura
some of Jersey's pieces of public art have some relevance but what is this? A Triffid! It's not beautiful like a real tree in fact it look sinister to me.
Gary
Why don't they put it on Ebay and see how much anyone else would pay for it.
TONY
WHY DON`T THEY SPEND MONEY ON REAL OAK TREES,LESS MAINTAINANCEAND COSTS. LET NATURE DO HER BIT..
Sue Le Cornu
I think it is disgusting that they can waste money on a statue that few people want when they cannot afford to pay for enough nurses to provide a decent level of care for geriatric or stroke wards at the hospital.
Peter
I'm with the majority. I do think that the tree is a total waste of mine & every other tax payers money.
The politicians who commssioned the tree should be hung from it. I like public art. The statue in Liberation Square is fantastic and it is obvious as to what it commemorates.
The tree just signifies waste to me and all it is commemorating is the States Of Jersey making yet another ludircrous decision.
The seagulls and pigeons will love it though and it would be interesting to see how long it will be until someone builds a tree-house in it. (only after receiving planning permission of course!!)
D Le Geyt
For half a million they could replace a lot of real trees that the island has lost, these would also last longer.
Marc
Public art is a social luxury. Money should be allocated to it if there are not more pressing public concerns requiring financing. It is always pleasing to see art in the streets.
Any city would be desolate without monuments, they show success. But success should only be expressed if it is justified. Producing art in the streets that has negligible meaning is a waste of resources.
s
the money for this statue should be given to the Opera House, and a real oak tree planted instead.
Ross
How can the States of Jersey talk about a "blackhole" of around £100 million in their budget, and in the same breath talk about spending 0.5% of that on a tree made of solid bronze. If they want a tree, I've got one in my back garden they can have for free, because I don't want either tree, and I suspect in the case of the majority of the public of jersey, the feeling is mutual (not necessarily for my tree...).
Sam
Yet another waste of public funds. If the states are suffering from such a huge deficit how can they even contemplate flittering away another mass of cash and then demand more cash in new forms of taxation. Let us not forget that the States of Jersey are well known for under-estimating the cost of these ridiculous projects and then throwing good money after bad. What about putting the money towards a more worthy cause like Health care, Education facilities making locals feel like staying in the island instead of selling up and leaving for more favourable cultures. Our future lies in people not a bronze statue that half the population won't notice and the other half will ridicule or deface.
Katie
I think that if the States of Jersey had the money to waste on sculptures every 5 minutes then thats ok, but they don't!
Janet Sloan
Some art very valuable this tree will be an inappropriate eysesore and insult to all those who care for the environment. At a time when the environment is being eroded real trees should be planted not stunted representatives.
Anne
I really do not know how the Sates have the nerve to ever consider spending this sort of money on something that to my mind is totally useless, We already have enough sculptures around the Island. I am sure the money could be spent on something that would benefit the people of Jersey, certainly not this sculpture.
Chris
Coincidentally the UK is also regarded as having one of the higgest standards of living in the world, the myth surrounding Jersey's standard of living compared to the UK has been exposed when you realise that your average islander lives in a boxflat and has to live with one of the higgest rates of cost of living in the world.
Trust me if the UK government wants to find the money it will, especially for London. The amount of money swilling around in the City of London dwarves Jersey.
But your right the ability to raise taxes is the difference and its something Jersey needs to think about seriously as the days of prosperity as a tax haven have gone.
I am all for statues, but only when our government can afford them, in the present climate it cannot.
James
Chris, Yet again you have replaced the facts for assumption. The Olympics are to be funded through an extra 'Olympic' tax likely to be placed upon Londoners. This is because there is currently not enough money for the project in the government coffers. Jersey has one of the lowest tax rates in the world and one of the higest standards of living. I say raise taxes and then we can have both good quality public services and many more bronze trees.
Chris
Your right but the UK Government does not go around moaning about it and then build something it doesent neeed... London does not neccesarily need the Olympics, but if it wins the bid, I doubt you will hear the UK government moaning about having no money to spend elsewhere as they will have made contingency plans. I have nothing against the tree, I just have something against the states moaning about a lack of funds when they spent half a million on something they don't need.
James
In response to Chris
You should really look at the facts instead of making such wild assumptions about the goings on of UK parliament. Firstly the UK has a deficit of around £34 billion and almost all departments are begging for more money. This is a fact of life in almost every country in the world. Like I said earlier I am not keen on this particular piece of art however public art in general is an investment that needs to be made for our social wellbeing.
Matt
The states members who run the Island have told us we will are in the red and the only way to get out of it is to once again raise taxes and cost of living. Yet again rather than listen to what we islanders have to say they are are throwing our money away on stupid projects the island has no need for. Well done Walker and Co.
Michael
Reply to Ian Moignard
I think it's £250,000 for the tree but I heard a politician (I assume the proposer but am not sure) had stated total cost for the statue, plinth, bench, construction of site etc would be £500,000. Before escalation!
Ian
Public art is appealing if it is relevant, such as the bronze Jersey cows, (the frog is a nice touch), and the statue in Liberation Square, but a tree ? Appaling, not appealing.
Andy
The kids are going to be throwing rubbish up into the branches for generations to come!
We've already got enough memorials for WWII - will we be adding new ones every 10 years for the rest of eternity?
What a waste of money. Leave the plinth bare until the island is ever prosperous again. If I end up paying GST/VAT while this travesty gets installed... I swear I'm going to vote for every new candidate that ever stands for election. And it'll still never change a thing!
Ian Moignard
This is an insane & scandalous waste of public money.
n.b. journalists have transposed 6 metres to 6 feet when stating the height of the "tree". Also, this article says "half a million pound" (sic). £250,000 (in other reports) is a quarter of a million, not 1/2 million, although I would not be surprised if it escalates to half a million (excluding the cost of continual graffiti removal.)
Charlie
I think stop with unnecessary sculptures and use the money for a sensible worthwhile reason - which would anything but sculptures, Steam Clocks, Needles etc.
Sandra
instead of introducing a Goods and Sales tax, stop wasting money on these pointless sculptures.
i only hope that the States members will listen to public opinion for a change, and put this money to better use.
Michael
I don't like this sculpture but I don't have any problem with it if someone else wants to put it up. Just don't expect me to pay for it through my taxes.
By my calculations that money would allow every working person to earn another £50 tax free next year.
Chris
James - your argument has a few flaws. A lot of over budget funding happens in the UK (just look at the new Wembley or the ridiculous Scottish parliament building), however you never here the UK government whining about having no money to spent in other areas so in a cost way they can justify the costs of white elephants (like the millenium dome in London). However in recent years you here no ending from the states whining about a lack of money, with this the case how can they justify a statue we do not really need. In a place the size of Jersey, for once the argument that the 500 000 pounds could of definetly gone to a different cause holds up.
Danielle
I have some qualifications in Art and I think that this "Art" is utterly pointless. I am sure that it means something to the creator but money could be spent on something alot more useful don't you think?
James
I feel this statue is lacking a certain quality that is evident in other examples around the Island. Having said that I disagree with those whining about the cost. Yes we could put it towards health care programmes; in fact if it were up to some of these people we would remove the entire cultural budget. Why aim to live an extra few years when all you see is a drab urban landscape? I seem to remember similar arguements against La Frigate - Some people would have obviously preferred the architectural wonder that was west park cafe!!
June
Yes to public art but not at the tax payers expense.
This money could have been put to better use. Part of it is from the Millenium fund so why did I hear there wasn't any money in the kitty for the Millenium Town Park?
Put this money to a more worthy cause like saving Warren Farn which is after all a memorial to the second world war.
Chris
It looks like a load of deer antlers stuck on a pole. A tribute to the ivory trade perhaps?
Roger
Once again the people we elected to run our Island are as usual doing what they want not what we want
Paul
Looking at the sketch of the location of the 6 foot bronze tree, the people of Jersey are only 2 foot tall. You'd think for 500000k they could get that right. By the way I think it is a total waste of money.
jonathan
Good grief ! which incompetent imbecile suggested that we throw good money away on this bit of tat?. I hope the local 'rag-n-bone' man takes it away.
It's about time some heads were rolling - whoever suggested this bit of metal was worth spending £500,000 is clearly lacking sound judgement.
Jo
'Welcome addition to the island's social health'. It looks like something a 5 year old drew!
As 'Ad Muin' said, how about commissioning a local artist (if indeed we need another sculpture - Although I suppose it gives a 'Public Sculpture Trust' something to throw money at!!)? What an absolute waste! It would be better to build a 6 foot white elephant to fit in with the steam clock etc!
Maureen
A good point made by paul. Also how much does Jersey Hospice need. Jersey people have always been extremely generous giving to charities. I am an amateur artist and think there is a need for public art, at the right time and in the right place. As the island is being told they are facing financial hardship it is not the right time to spend on public art.
Michelle Teixeira
Waste of public money, spend it on something more worthwhile other than something that youths today don't appreciate and vandalise instead........
robert blackmore
Is the bronze tree 6 feet or 6 metres high?
Ad Muin
I would like to know who exatly has been commissioned to design this work. Is this project nurturing home-grown talent, or is this celebration of Jersey's economic prosperity going to send half a million pounds straight out of the island?
Public art can make a useful artistic and social comment, but I do have to question the location - isn't the waterfront area becoming a little too clogged up with sculptures and site-specific works?
That said, it's about time Jersey commemorated its success in the financial sector. Its time to be forward looking and innovative, and creativity is an essential component of this.
Michael Edge
So the Island may be on the verge of bankrucptcy...?
Doesn't look like it..!
paul
another pointless waste of money that we are told we don't have... how much did family nursing need???
