Social media, NBA Kings fans and the Sacramento art world have “buzzed with emotions ranging from disgust to joy" since the franchise, the city and local art officials announced they had picked a sculpture by artist Jeff Koons as the "centerpiece" for the public plaza of the team's new arena, according to a front-page piece by Ryan Lillis of the SACRAMENTO BEE. The sculpture “is the fifth in Koons’ ‘Coloring Book’ series.” The pieces are “inspired by a young child coloring outside the lines over the image of Piglet, a character from the ‘Winnie the Pooh’ books.” The piece will be 18 feet tall and “would be the first Koons sculpture owned by a municipality.” The main complaint “from those who don’t like the choice is that local artists are being pushed aside in favor of an out-of-town artist whose pieces sell for prices that are outlandish by Sacramento standards.” Koons' supporters “point out that the public art budget for the arena also includes” $1.5M for local art. That is “believed to be the largest single contribution to local public art in the city’s history.” Supporters said that the giant Piglet “will become an instant landmark for the city.” The City Council is “scheduled to vote next week on whether to approve a contract with Koons and his gallery.” Under the terms of the contract, the city and Kings “would buy the sculpture” for $7.5M and “spend another $500,000 on shipping and maintenance costs” (SACRAMENTO BEE, 3/5).
