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11/07/2010

Hon. Brendon John Grylls MLA

Level 9 East
Dumas House
2 Havelock Street
West Perth WA 6005

Dear Brendon,

This is an initial enquiry on behalf of many who live in the Great Southern and an even greater number who visit the Great Southern.

As you probably know, the Esplanade Hotel site is now up for sale. The asking price is $15,000,000.00. Given the owners purchased the block and building for around $10,000,000.00 and the only site improvements in the intervening four years have been the demolishing of the building and the installation of a public art project, now referred to as the “Sock Fence”.

What this means, Brendon, is that public art has arrived at a new benchmark in West Australia, for the “Sock Fence” appears to be worth $5,000,000.00

This is great news for those involved in public art.

Now, my particular group, The Urban Sock Bombers, who so far have been derided as a subversive, trouble making group,  wish to re-establish themselves as serious artists and play a more active and sensible role in the wider community.

It is due to this necessary change of attitude that we are writing to you to ascertain the possibility of a grant from your Royalties for Regions stock pile. Our budget would be as follows:

           

           

Purchase of block of Esplanade Hotel site land	$10,000.000.00
Purchase of public art – “Sock Fence”	$5,000,000.00
Re-installation of “Sock Fence” at new site	371.00
Building of contemporary hotel with accompanying residences for president and treasurer of Urban Sock Bombers collective	271,00,000.00
Total	$286,000,00.00

The re-installation of the “Sock Fence”  in a new location and the building of a major new, luxury hotel to house the many tourists who will inevitably flock to see such an amazing installation – a unique combination of public art and public protest - will enhance the ability of the region to flourish in this new millennium.

I am sure, Brendon, you, as a young, virile and energetic creative thinker, can see the merit of such a project.

We in the Urban Sock Bombers collective would be more than happy to oblige you with plenty of photo opportunities with a view to enhancing your own public profile and we fully intend maintaining a room at the inn for your constant pleasure.

Yours in community,

Urban Sock Bombers Collective

MORE YARNS FROM THE STREETS OF ALBANY

 

 

$5 million? For Socks?

Read carefully.

The owners of the Esplanade site paid somewhere around $10,000,000 for the block, yes, plus a BUILDING.
There is no longer a building on the site.
There is only sand, weeds, a few handsome shrubs, lots of human debris and a few fallen socks.
The site has lain dormant for nearly four years: no improvements.
Property values in Albany have fallen over those four years.
This means, forgive me if my maths are out, that CS Partners are asking for $5,000,000 for SOCKS!
Brilliant.
That is probably a record price for a public art project.

Don't panic, but it's not the end yet

This is today's (6/7/2010) Albany Advertiser.
It looks good, but the block has to be sold, and the council has to ensure some of the vacant land is developed for public use, or the socks will return.
The community has embraced this site, taken ownership of its fence, festooned it with socks, and invcested in its future.
And had some fun on the way.

The cartoon from the Albany Advertiser, 6/7/2010.