"Carbon Sink"

Last year, on our drive home from California, we stopped at the University of Wyoming in Laramie to see the art museum.  The architecture of the building was amazing, and we liked the exhibits, but the museum store was closed and the woman at the desk told us the funding had been cut.

They seem to have some problems with art out there in Wyoming.  Chris Drury, an artist from England, installed a sculpture of dead pine trunks and lumps of coal   The installation, entitled “Carbon Sink,” was supposed to illustrate how global warming has led to an increase in the number of pine beetles, which are killing western forests.  You can see some photos of the sculpture at <http://www.eco-question.com/th/carbon-sink-art-installation-by-chris-drury>.  

I think it was a thought-provoking sculpture.  Others disagree.  Energy company executives and state legislators threatened to cut funds to the University if the sculpture remained, and as a consequence it was removed a year ahead of schedule by the museum director.  They might not know much about art in Wyoming, but they know what they don’t like.