The Last Straw

 

Greetings, Columbia Maryland! The Howard Hughes Corporation would like you to know it expresses itself in an artistic manner.

Our commitment to the integration of art throughout our communities isn't just about the present-it's about leaving a legacy of inspiration for future generations. By adorning our spaces with captivating public art, we invest in the soul of our communities.

Notice anything? 

How did this get in there? The Chrysalis in Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods is not a product of the Howard Hughes Corporation. Sure, it looks great for their corporate image. But isn’t this a bit like trying to take credit for someone else’s homework?

And along comes the Downtown Columbia Partnership to lend credibility to the post.

Three of the pictures featured here are of #DowntownColumbiaMd

projects. How we appreciate this investment in #Art and in Columbia, Maryland. #BestPlaceToLive #DTCArts

Aside from the general tone of obeisance to HHC - - which I personally find rather creepy - - it’s important to note that the Downtown Columbia Partnership is reinforcing the error rather than correcting it. This is the second time this summer that DTC has used social media to post a falsehood about the Chrysalis. You may recall I wrote about the first occurrence in June.

Errata All Around, Village Green/Town², June 24, 2023

Downtown Columbia hosts many great events throughout the year!

Wine in the Woods will be held this weekend at Merriweather Post

Pavilion's Symphony Woods.

Oh my word. Help me out here. Somehow, according to the Downtown Columbia Partnership, the Chrysalis is both a work of public art created by the Howard Hughes Corporation and a concert venue belonging to Merriweather Post Pavilion. Gee whiz, what a gosh-darned versatile structure.

Make it stop. 

Do the simplest of things: tell the truth. Don’t take credit for somebody else’s work. If you have to be dishonest to make yourself look good, how good can you actually be? And, if you want members of a community to trust you when you propose big things, wouldn’t it be a good idea to be trustworthy in the first place?

By the way, the red sculpture is in Woodlands, Texas, another “Howard Hughes community.”

*****

This Saturday at the Chrysalis: a Celebration of the March of Washington, a concert by Accord Symphony/DC Strings. This free concert begins at 5 PM. Register for your tickets here.