Artists and farmers vie for park space
Rocky's plan hurts growers, crowds us out, founder says
Now, however, Wikstrom said all that work is on the verge of going to waste at Pioneer Park as street artists have been mooching off the farmers' sweat.
Since artists have moved into the park near the market, more people are coming down, spending more time and making the park so busy Wikstrom's customers won't visit anymore.
"They came right down and parked next to us," Wikstrom said. "And there's people who are going out of business."
But those crowds are exactly what Mayor Rocky Anderson is looking to bring to city parks and business districts.
Wednesday night Anderson's administration convened a public meeting at the Pioneer Police Precinct to hash out ongoing issues over street artists in Salt Lake City.
Anderson is preparing an ordinance that would codify different rules regarding where and how artists can set up shop. Under Anderson's current proposal artists wouldn't need a permit before setting up at a park or on a sidewalk in a business district. Also artists could set up 100 feet from existing events like the Farmers Market.
Anderson's ideas are earning praise local artists.
"We should be begging these artists to come out on our streets and give us some culture," Renee Shaw said Wednesday.
Still the City Council might change some of Anderson's goals when they consider the mayor's proposed ordinance. In a previous, temporary ordinance governing street artists, the council went against Anderson's wishes and imposed a $50 annual permit fee for street artists.
That temporary ordinance has since expired, and the city currently has antiquated laws forbidding the sale of street art. Those ordinances are now unconstitutional given recent federal case law upholding artists' rights to sell art on streets and in parks, senior city attorney Larry Spendlove said.
The city's property manager, Linda Cordova, caught Anderson off guard Wednesday when she told the precinct crowd that she thinks the city should impose a permitting process on artists a recommendation contrary to Anderson's desire.
"It would be good for the administration to speak with one voice," Anderson said. "She's not discussed this with me before."
The Downtown Alliance, which operates the Farmer's Market and promotes businesses downtown, has expressed concerns about Anderson's plan because it allows artists to sell "reproduced art" and not just original art. That could create a flea market type atmosphere, the alliance fears.
Spendlove, however, said court ruling give artists the constitutional right to sell reproduced art.
Anderson said he would put together a panel of business, artists and other interests to further discuss the proposed ordinance.
E-mail: bsnyder@desnews.com
Comments
- Parks nominee is in hot water 9:30 p.m.
- Burris bows out of 2010 race 9:30 p.m.
- Regulators close Wyoming bank 9:17 p.m.
- Bailout $ may aid small business 9:16 p.m.
- Facebook sued on control of content 9:15 p.m.
- Poor more likely to leave California 9:13 p.m.
- Montana guv blasts GM 9:11 p.m.
- GM exits bankruptcy quickly 9:10 p.m.
- Death near Rockville suspicious 9:09 p.m.
- May trade deficit dropped to $26B 9:08 p.m.
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- Jazz talking Boozer trade?
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
- Jazz in back of line for free agents
- Blazers offer Millsap 4-year deal
- A primer for the 6th Potter film
- Okur signs two-year extension
- Jazz won't meet Lopez on Europe trip
- Restaurant destroyed by fire
- Letters: Palin mistreated
142 - Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - Teachers struggle with district cuts
138 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
136 - LDS seminary principal arrested
133 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
123 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
93 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
74 - Letters: Single-payer system best
71
As more and more dads are put out of work in this economy, I've been...
The photographs are mysterious, brooding, dark. They show dimples and...
Utahns PAY for all that stuff, how Californians using that money? What...
Chris - Moon rock samples and personal testimonyies/witnesses aside, do...
time to get rid of both. we need Bosh from Toronto .....trade all 3 including...
Mary Coppins has a new slant these days. I am just so glad he has stopped...
Not one single "Jazz fan" has spelled the name Joel Przybilla correctly, in...
i had awesome this year and she was well....awesome =) i miss her so much...
Yes, I'm rooting for the Y against OK also. Any win by MWC over BCS benefits...
off the hook for this, because he did good things at other times. We are...
"So depending on where you look, you'll get your answer." Well...that's...
Apparently your allowed to bring politics into this "sports" story but if...


You can be the first to comment on this story.