The Peace Park is a great cause and very deserving of the $35,000, and I agree that the fuss over this particular piece of art is ridiculous, but in my admittedly quite limited artistic opinion - that depiction is butt ugly and I wouldn't pay $5 for it let alone $35,000. Of course, no one is asking me to, so whatever floats somebody else's boat.
As much as I dislike it as art, I will say that having lived in Spokane for 11 years (they are actually only 18 miles apart -CDA is a suburb although they are loathe to admit that
), it isn't nearly as atrocious as the plethoria of yard art available all over the area which primarily features carved wooden and painted stone black bears and eagles.
I won't even discuss that scap metal moose since someone has already seen fit to mention that monstrosity. Let's just say we were a LONG ways from Santa Fe.
Fortunately, the lakes, mountains, rivers, and a lovely community atomsphere make up for this glaring lack of artistic achievement.