The Obscenity of the Gateway Arch

El Greco's portrait of Louis IX.

I must say, even as a lifelong St. Louisian, that I am no fan of the Arch, and so I was not particularly enthused to learn about the three hundred million dollar (!) project to make the Arch/riverfront even more of a focal point, complete with beer garden and ice skating rink (?!).

OK, I do realize that when people think of St. Louis, they think of our little bit of possibly fascist architecture (though maybe not). But personally, I'd prefer as a symbol of our city something like the majestic equestrian statue of Louis IX outside of the Art Museum. Though he may have been a crusader, St. Louis was also renowned for his charity towards the less fortunate:

"The peace and blessings of the realm come to us through the poor he would say. Beggars were fed from his table, he ate their leavings, washed their feet, ministered to the wants of the lepers, and daily fed over one hundred poor. He founded many hospitals and houses: the House of the Felles-Dieu for reformed prostitutes; the Quinze-Vingt for 300 blind men (1254), hospitals at Pontoise, Vernon, Compiégne."

Beats the heck out of a naked metallic hunk of geometry.