The CIA is expanding its headquarters in Langley, Va., and, like many civic- minded builders, will dedicate one-half of 1% of its construction costs to works of art. Since ordinary taxpayers are not allowed into the intelligence agency's headquarters, none of them will ever see the CIA art. The amount of money involved is similarly secret, because that would reveal the extent of the construction plans. But the CIA wants to make sure that no bad choices are made. So it has asked the General Services Administration to select its art.
The ever careful GSA turned to the National Endowment for...