ODDLY ENOUGH

ODDLY ENOUGH

Judge says Erie casino has to pay $705K in dirt dispute

ERIE, Pa.

A judge says Presque Isle Downs & Casino must pay $705,000 to the Greater Erie Industrial Development Corp. for not delivering more than 50,000 cubic yards of dirt needed to cover part of a polluted paper plant site that almost became home to the casino.

After MTR Gaming Group decided to build the casino on another parcel in Summit Township, outside the city, Presque Isle sold the International Paper plant property — including $600,000 worth of “clean fill” or dirt — to GEIDC for $4 million.

GEIDC sued when Presque Isle didn’t deliver the dirt.

The casino’s attorney argues it had no obligation to provide the dirt because it wasn’t listed in the deed for the land.

Erie County Judge John Garhart disagrees saying it would be “absurd” for GEIDC to pay $600,000 for nothing.

The casino will appeal.

Polish art student hangs own painting in museum

WARSAW, Poland

Art student Andrzej Sobiepan didn’t want to wait decades for his work to appear in museums. So he took matters in his own hands, covertly hanging one of his paintings in a major Polish gallery.

The young artist was getting plenty of attention after a nationwide TV channel reported on his stunt at the National Museum in the southwestern city of Wroclaw. He told reporters he hoped galleries would give more exhibition space to young artists as a result.

“I decided that I will not wait 30 or 40 years for my works to appear at a place like this,” Sobiepan told TVN24. “I want to benefit from them in the here and now.”

Sobiepan, a Wroclaw Fine Arts Academy student whose last name means “his own master,” said he was inspired by the elusive British graffiti artist known only as Banksy. His own painting is small, white and green, and partly uses swine leather to show a drooping acacia leaf.

On Dec. 10, Sobiepan put it up in a room with contemporary Polish art when a guard at the museum was looking the other way. Museum officials didn’t notice the new painting for a few days.

Museum director Mariusz Hermansdorfer told TVN24 recently that the action revealed some security breaches, but that he also considered it a “witty artistic happening.”

“It has shown that the young generation of artists, unlike their predecessors, wants to see their works in museums,” Hermansdorfer said.

The museum has kept the painting on display — in its cafe. It was to be offered for sale at Poland’s biggest charity auction.

Associated Press