Public Art in the news today - both the big Banksy sale at Bonhams in Knightsbridge last night (£565,000 in sales, originally estimated to go for £300,000) and noise around B of the Bang in Manchester:

"The makers of the controversial B Of The Bang sculpture are being sued for £2 million because it is unsafe.

The designers of the 56m (184ft) Manchester landmark have been accused of negligence by council bosses after it failed to meet safety standards. They have also been told that major work is needed to finish the £1.4 million structure, which remains fenced off four years after it was due to be completed.

The action against the design team – including artist Thomas Heatherwick – comes after a catalogue of mishaps.

The cost of B Of The Bang rocketed from £750,000 to £1.4 million because the initial quote did not include installation.
To make matters worse, its official opening was delayed by 18 months and a spike fell off causing the closure of a nearby road. The sculpture is still sealed off." [more]

see more at today's Metro online