Imperceptive and simplistic

While anyone may have views on the artistic merits of the Woy Woy Oval mural (I happen to think that it is pretty bad), Richard Newby's criticism of it ("Mural to be ripped down in five years' time?" Peninsula News, Jan 9) is imperceptive and simplistic.

One wonders what he would have imagined, if the mural had been designed by Pablo Picasso who was not noted for his adherence to visual reality.

Of course, he is quite correct that using an expensive American artist to carry out the work, when we have a more than adequate number of mediocre artists of our own, is difficult to justify.

However, his statement that "this expensive mural will be ripped down in five years' time", doesn't seem to accord with the official announcement made at the time of its unveiling.

What was said there was that the mural (which is on presumably demountable steel panels) will remain in place for at least five years - not quite the same thing.

Perhaps the Council is waiting on any experiences of vandalism etc. (not unreasonable given the fate of the "imag ne" artwork at Gosford), before deciding that the oval is the permanent home of the mural.

Incidentally, rather than a cartoon pelican, I am much more disturbed by one panel that seems to depict a footballer delivering a straight right (to an opposing player's head?) over the word goal in comic-strip letters.

I think this image could have been more carefully considered before giving it a prominent position in the mural.

Email, 11 Jan 2017

Bruce Hyland, Woy Woy