RAINBOW: Pot of gold suggestions

I believe we can express dislike for something without vitriol, so I appreciated reading Glen Rothrock’s recent thoughtful letter regarding the Rainbow sculpture. His conclusion, like mine, is that there is nothing very attractive about our Rainbow, yet he mentions that the artist has another installation in Albuquerque which he describes as being “really cool.” The artist has had successes elsewhere, and was not necessarily a bad choice by our Arts Commission. Mr. Rothrock also compliments the Arts Commission on the installation of the Allium sculpture in the park, which, I agree, is really impressive.

Knowing that the Rainbow is here to stay, and seeing it each day as I look out my windows, I have pondered what might be done to make it more attractive. The concept was really intriguing when I read about it, but the outcome has not been as impressive as hoped, so what can we do to make it more appealing?

One of my biggest issues with it is the white shiny paint on the metal bases and arms. When it was first erected, I assumed someone would be finishing it, and not leaving it in stark-white industrial form. Painting the stark white surfaces with a brushed aluminum finish would GREATLY improve the overall appearance.

Planting some shrubbery and small trees around the outsides of the large bases would be an additional improvement.

Finally, placing some sort of lens cover over the bare bulbs would make a big difference for those who can see the sculpture from the sides. The harshness of bare colored bulbs flashing through my windows and many other windows throughout downtown is really unattractive.

With these relatively inexpensive improvements, the Rainbow could be a better focal point for our beautiful park! Before we complain too loudly about it, let’s see if we can make it something which will be more appealing. And, let’s express ourselves thoughtfully as we move forward.

KRISTEN LAHNER

Coeur d’Alene