Ex-NASA artist Laurie Anderson receives Yaddo Artist Medal, dedicates it to Lou Reed

NEW YORK, N.Y. – The first artist in residence at NASA likes to point out she was also the last artist in residence at NASA.

Musician and performance artist Laurie Anderson says there are “a lot of departments” in the government that could use artists.

Anderson spoke Monday at a New York ceremony hosted by Yaddo, the Saratoga Springs-based artist colony where she had a residency last year. She received Yaddo’s annual Artist Medal and dedicated it to her late husband, Lou Reed.

During her brief remarks she imagined Congress’ decision to end the space agency program in 2006 after she had served for two years: $30 million for drones? No problem. But she says, “$20,000 for an artist in residence? This is an outrage!”