Residents and visitors alike are impressed by Fountain Hills’ public art collection. Pieces are visible throughout the civic center complex, Avenue of the Fountains, Fountain Park and other scattered commercial locations in Fountain Hills.

Because of its very nature, “art,” like beauty, is often in the eye of the beholder. While not everyone likes every piece in the collection – there is no question the collection is diverse, beautiful and helps create a unique atmosphere in our town.

Jerry and Jackie Miles, in particular, along with a host of other benefactors through the years, in cooperation with the Fountain Hills Cultural and Civic Association, have spearheaded the development of this public art collection in cooperation with the Town of Fountain Hills.

Private donations from individuals, groups and other benefactors have paid for the lion’s share of the collection.

The grouping of presidential statues along Saguaro Blvd. near Plaza Fountainside has drawn many positive comments. Visitors can often be seen taking pictures of the sculptures.

Questions have arisen, however, about a plaque featuring quotes attributed to one of the latest presidential sculptures, Thomas Jefferson. Citizens circulating a petition to the Town Council say seven of the eight quotes are “spurious, incomplete or changed” in some fashion.

The FHCCA’s Public Art Committee was scheduled to meet this week, after presstime, to discuss the situation. No doubt the committee will research the issue and replace the plaque if necessary. We’re confident the committee did not deliberately use incorrect quotes or was trying to make some grandiose political statement.

However, larger questions have been raised about the approval process between the FHCCA and Town Council. Community Services Director Mark Mayer told us the plaque was placed by the Public Art Committee and its contents were not part of the process of the Town Council accepting the private art work.

It would make sense that ALL pieces of a public display accepted by the Town Council be seen by council members before approving them into town’s public art collection. We don’t think there are any other egregious errors out there in the collection, but it probably would be a good idea for someone to check.