PROFESSIONALINTERIORDESIGNER watched, with mild amusement, the public perceptions and art world criticisms of Japanese artist Tatzu Nishi’s installation in New York called “Discovering Columbus”.

For those that missed it- basically Mr. Nishi built a living room around the giant statue of Christopher Columbus in Columbus Circle Park in New York.

http://www.publicartfund.org/view/exhibitions/5495_discovering_columbus

Seems like an expensive way to honor the dubious achievements of ole Chris Columbus but who am I to say it isn’t art?  That is until I came across this article in the Wall Street Journal proclaiming the installation as great interior design.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443982904578044692790563074.html

This profession gets its P.R. from the strangest sources.  Remember we are not talking about the Poughkeepsie Journal here.  Mr. Gardner’s point, I am afraid, will be all too well taken by many readers that yes this is what interior design is.

No wonder we get no respect.