The Obama State Department went on a $1,420,000 art buying spree before the shutdown...

"The Black Arch"

Priorities...

(CNSNews.com) - In the days before the October government shutdown, the State Department spent $150,000 on “The Black Arch”, an art installation piece referencing Mecca. [...]
The State Department tells CNSNews.com, “The Black Arch will be installed at the new U.S. Consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.”
“The Black Arch” was one of several artworks that were purchased by the State Department in September of 2013.
In all, $1,420,000 in contracts for artwork were posted Sunday afternoon on the Federal Business Opportunities website.
The largest State Department contract was a million dollars for a “Granite Sculpture by Sean Scully”. The contract was awarded on Sept. 25 to the Waqas Wajahat gallery in New York.
“Granite Sculpture” is designated for installation at the U.S. Embassy in London.