Accusations of “nativism” in dispute over city artwork

Temperatures ran hot at Madison’s Common Council meeting on Tuesday over the commission and installation of public artwork at two upcoming development projects. Debates over budget and local artists turned into accusations of anti-immigrant sentiment and impassioned pleas by alders. Both art projects ultimately earned the city council’s approval after the tense back-and-forth, with just one alder voting no. Image courtesy: The Milligan Studio.