Controversy ensues over clothesline/fence
Is it a fence or a clothesline, an eyesore or a work of art? The new art installation has many area residents asking this very question.
The answer is it depends on which side of the line you are standing. The clothesline was erected by Peggy McTeague and stretches between WildChild Gallery and Lovegrove Gallery and Garden in Matlacha.
The new addition has sparked a conflict between McTeague and owner of Lovegrove’s.
“When Leoma removed the fence, it left us feeling as though we were exposed to the world,” said McTeague. “Due to permitting it is going to take about six months before we are able to put up a fence along the property line, so I thought this would be a good opportunity to lend us some privacy and also erect a continually changing art installation. After giving the idea some thought we came up with the clothes line. It is not a fence and the county sees it simply as a clothesline.”
In the months to come, McTeague plans to hang various themes on the line.
“In about two months, we will be hosting an event known as Al’s Ties to raise funds for those suffering from Lou Gehrig’s disease. At that time the clothesline will be decorated with colorful neck ties and signs with positive messages,” McTeague said. “We have also began asking our patrons to help out by painting on large pieces of cloth, allowing them to express themselves also with positive messages. We will have completed six of these paintings and they will hang on the line using a different one each month until we can replace the fence.”
Lovegrove, however, does not view McTeague’s creation as art and objects to the clothesline.
“Before making my feelings public, I had sought out some of Peggy’s friends and even the chamber to plead with her to remove the clothesline,” Lovegrove said. “I don’t think it’s appropriate and I am surprised the county would allow it. At this point, however, I am resigned to the clothesline and will do my part to make my side of it attractive for my visitors, but I don’t think the dirty clothes are going to be good for business in Matlacha.”
According to Lovegrove, the fence dispute started when she decided to remove the fence that once stood between the two properties.
“I had approached Peggy and told her that the foot of mulch she had piled up against the fence was causing it to rot, but nothing was ever done. Later, I was advised by my attorney to remove the fence to reclaim the foot of my property that I had lost with the fence as I was putting my property up for sale,” Lovegrove said. “I had heard that Peggy had intended to put up her own fence, so I called a licensed fence professional and when he talked to Peggy she indicated that she was not ready to build a fence, but since my attorney had advised me to remove it, that is what we did.”
Lovegrove said she has resigned herself to the clothesline and will no longer argue with McTeague about taking it down.
Controversy ensues over clothesline/fence
Is it a fence or a clothesline, an eyesore or a work of art? The new art installation has many area residents asking this very question.
The answer is it depends on which side of the line you are standing. The clothesline was erected by Peggy McTeague and stretches between WildChild Gallery and Lovegrove Gallery and Garden in Matlacha.
The new addition has sparked a conflict between McTeague and owner of Lovegrove’s.
“When Leoma removed the fence, it left us feeling as though we were exposed to the world,” said McTeague. “Due to permitting it is going to take about six months before we are able to put up a fence along the property line, so I thought this would be a good opportunity to lend us some privacy and also erect a continually changing art installation. After giving the idea some thought we came up with the clothes line. It is not a fence and the county sees it simply as a clothesline.”
In the months to come, McTeague plans to hang various themes on the line.
“In about two months, we will be hosting an event known as Al’s Ties to raise funds for those suffering from Lou Gehrig’s disease. At that time the clothesline will be decorated with colorful neck ties and signs with positive messages,” McTeague said. “We have also began asking our patrons to help out by painting on large pieces of cloth, allowing them to express themselves also with positive messages. We will have completed six of these paintings and they will hang on the line using a different one each month until we can replace the fence.”
Lovegrove, however, does not view McTeague’s creation as art and objects to the clothesline.
“Before making my feelings public, I had sought out some of Peggy’s friends and even the chamber to plead with her to remove the clothesline,” Lovegrove said. “I don’t think it’s appropriate and I am surprised the county would allow it. At this point, however, I am resigned to the clothesline and will do my part to make my side of it attractive for my visitors, but I don’t think the dirty clothes are going to be good for business in Matlacha.”
According to Lovegrove, the fence dispute started when she decided to remove the fence that once stood between the two properties.
“I had approached Peggy and told her that the foot of mulch she had piled up against the fence was causing it to rot, but nothing was ever done. Later, I was advised by my attorney to remove the fence to reclaim the foot of my property that I had lost with the fence as I was putting my property up for sale,” Lovegrove said. “I had heard that Peggy had intended to put up her own fence, so I called a licensed fence professional and when he talked to Peggy she indicated that she was not ready to build a fence, but since my attorney had advised me to remove it, that is what we did.”
Lovegrove said she has resigned herself to the clothesline and will no longer argue with McTeague about taking it down.