In the context of Digital DNA, explore the Thrown out with trash of the History and controversies.
Digital DNA was commissioned in 2000.  In 2001, while moving from Palo Alto to San Francisco Varella used her shared garage to store unattached pieces of the artwork.  Her neighbor mistook the unfinished work for junk, and threw it out.  Varella lost six months of work.The installation of the piece was originally scheduled for May 8, 2004, but was delayed due to changes in city policy regarding the hiring of city vendors.  By June an installer had been hired, and Digital DNA was ready to be installed; however, a conflicting plan for the complete redesign of the plaza had been made public.  Former Palo Alto mayor Leland Levy and real estate developer Roxy Rapp proposed a $500,000 revitalization of Lytton plaza.  The design featured a central fountain, but did not include Digital DNA.On June 17, the Palo Alto Public Art Commission held a meeting to discuss the future of Digital DNA in relation to the fountain plan.  Levy and Rapp requested that the installation of the artwork be further delayed until their proposal was formally presented to the City Council.  The Commission unanimously voted to study the fountain plan, but also reiterated their desire for the immediate installation of Digital DNA.
San Francisco Palo Alto Lytton