POSTED: 5:37 p.m. PDT July 10, 2003

Chris Halsne
KIRO 7 Eyewitness News Investigative Reporter

A bevy of $200,000 bird sculptures inside a prison has lawmakers shaking their heads and looking to make some serious budget changes.

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PUBLIC ART BEHIND BARS Share Your Thoughts

Investigative Reporter Chris Halsne exposes an oversight in our "public arts" laws.

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SEE THE ARTWORK Slideshow: Art Behind Bars

We discovered inmates at the Stafford Creek Correctional Center have recently redecorated their visiting room with blue and amber colored flocks of acrylic birds.

The $200,000 project came out of your pocket. But because of this investigation, it likely won't happen again.

This swirl of birds represents "life beyond prison," but unless you can get through the barbed wire and security doors, you're not going to enjoy this public art.

The Washington Arts Commission and the Department of Corrections are defending their decision to place expensive sculptures in the depths of a maximum security facility.

PART I Part I: Behind Bars, Pricey 'Public' Artwork In Prisons

"Actually, there is a lot of public that comes in: offender families, children. We do volunteer programs in that area; nearly 600 staff here," said Doug Wadington, warden at Stafford Creek Correctional Center .

"A lot of times with public art, the whole point is public debate -- each person's own personal 'take' of what it means to them," said Michelle Zahrly of the Washington Arts Commission.

Washington's Arts Law requires all new state-funded building projects, like Stafford Creek, to budget extra money for artwork. The law doesn't specify where the art is placed.

SURVEY State law requires .5% of a public building's cost be spent on artwork. Should the law be changed so that the public can have access to all such art? Yes. No. Not sure. Results  |  Disclaimer

State Representative Hans Dunchee, who co-chairs the House Finance Committee, says it's time to clarify the law and rule out tax-funded art in prison.

"Art ought to be public, public art -- that's what the money is for, so the people can enjoy it, so artists can exhibit their work. Having it where the public can't get it to isn't the way to go," Rep. Dunchee said.

Most of the public we talked with agrees.

"I think that it's an extraordinary amount of money to put birds in a prison, absolutely amazing!" said one taxpayer.

"I think it's a shame that it isn't in a place where more people can see it."

"That's, that's a conundrum."

One that some lawmakers want to settle with new restrictions on public art in the coming session.

We checked: The Arts Commission not only spent $200,000 inside Stafford Creek last month, but spent another $200,000 on projects at two other prisons recently.

Contact Rep. Hans Dunshee, who's trying to get the arts law changed