-MEMORANDUM

To:     Dave Corliss

Assistant City Manager

Debbie Van Saun

Assistant City Manager

From:  Michael Tubbs

          Management Analyst

Re:     agenda item

Date:  September 7, 2004

Please place the following item on the City Commission agenda for consideration at their September 14, 2004 meeting:

Downtown Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition -- Orphan Sculptures:

Attached please find a recommendation from the Lawrence Arts Commission to approve proposed options concerning sculptures.

Project History. 

Over the past 17 years the Lawrence Arts Commission has organized an annual Downtown Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition to enhance the understanding and appreciation of sculpture in the Lawrence community.  There are some years when artist have abandoned or choose to donate their sculptures to the City of Lawrence.  As a result, the City over the years will accumulate a small number of sculptures and must decide how best to display such sculptures or dispose of them.

On April 28, 2004, the City sent notices to the three artists listed below pursuant to their signed Loan Agreements with the City of Lawrence for exhibiting their pieces in the outdoor sculpture exhibition sponsored by the Lawrence Arts Commission.

Name:   Title of Artwork Loan Agreement Date

John Hooker             Landmark                                May 13, 2000

Jason Lumetta   Mighty Steel Wedge                      May 1998

Yu-ting Shih            Tango                                   May 11, 2000

The notice provided 30 days from the date of the notice to make arrangements with the City to remove the artwork from the City's possession.  The notice provided that if the artwork was not removed, then the City would dispose of said artwork in "any manner whatsoever" pursuant to their agreements.

To date, none of these artists have removed these pieces or made arrangements to do so.  Therefore, the City considered these pieces abandoned property and referred the matter to the Lawrence Arts Commission to proceed in making use of them in manner that would enhance the arts in Lawrence.

The sculpture “Inside Out” was donated to the City by the Alan Jay Glen in 2003, but was damaged while in storage.  The sculpture “Endless Toilets” was damaged from rain water freezing inside the toilets.  A claim was paid on this piece in 1999.

Project Status.

The Lawrence Arts Commission considered how to best use the orphaned sculpture at its August 10, 2004.  Comments were offered by Commissioners on the Sculpture subcommittee and members of the public.  Three proposals were offered by the Sculpture Subcommittee to make use of the sculptures in manner that would enhance the arts in Lawrence.  A fourth proposal was added at their September 8, 2004 meeting:

1. Place the sculpture titled “Landmark” by John Hooker at the Douglas County 4H Fair Grounds under the care of the Extension Master Gardeners of Douglas County in one of the Demonstration Gardens they maintain for public benefit.
2. Place the sculpture titled “The Mighty Steel Wedge” by Jason Lumetta in the roundabout located at 19 & Barker Street.
3. Sell or auction to the public as surplus property the sculpture titled “Tango” by Yu-ting Shih
4. Disposal of the sculptures “Inside Out” & “Endless Toilets” because they have been damaged beyond repair.

The Lawrence Arts Commission voted 6-2 to recommend the first three proposals noted above to the City Commission for approval.  (3 commissioners were absent and did not vote.)  The Lawrence Arts Commission voted at their September 8, 2004 meeting 8-0 to recommend proposal four above – disposal of certain sculptures due to damage.

Action Request.  The Lawrence Arts Commission recommends that the City Commission approve the proposed Lawrence Arts Commission sculpture proposals as noted.

Thank you for your assistance.  Please advise if you have any questions.

c:       Mike Wildgen, City Manager

          DiAnne Damro, Chair

(att.)