Title
Approval of Expenditure of Arts in Public Places Funds in an Amount Not To Exceed $3,000 for the Repair and Associated Costs of the Small Sculpture “Crane Unfolding”, by Kevin Box
Recommended Action
I move that Council approve the expenditure of the Arts in Public Places fund in an amount not to exceed $3,000 for the repair and associated costs for the sculpture called “Crane Unfolding”.
County Manager's Recommendation
The County Manager recommends that the Council approve the request of the Arts in Public Places Board to expend funds in an amount not to exceed $3,000 for the repair and associated costs of the sculpture called “Crane Unfolding”.
Board, Commission or Committee Recommendation
The Art in Public Places Board approved the motion at their July 2024 meeting to recommend to Council the option of fixing the “Crane Unfolding” statue, with a cost not to exceed $3,000.
Body
The “Crane Unfolding” statue by artist Kevin Box was approved for purchase by the Art in Public Places Board at their August 8, 2012, meeting for $3,400. Its current home is on the second floor of the Municipal Building. In May 2024, it was brought to the attention of County staff that the crane on top of the sculpture had broken off and was sitting next to the rest of the sculpture.
A local shop, Jona Manufacturing Services, was consulted about how to repair the piece. They determined that the material was too soft for them to fix. The artist was contacted, and the Assistant Director of his Gallery contacted the APP staff liaison to offer a repair solution. After some discussion in the 7/25/24 meeting, the Arts in Public Places Board approved the solution to ship the statue to the artist to repair it providing the cost did not exceed $3,000. The studio, Box Studio Galleries, is in Cerrillos, New Mexico.
Alternatives
Council could not approve the expense.
Council could not approve the repair and ask APP Board to remove the broken statue from the Los Alamos Public Art Collection.
Fiscal and Staff Impact/Planned Item
The fiscal impact will be no greater than $3,000. It will require County staff to either ship or deliver the sculpture to the artist’s shop for assessment, receive repair quote from the artist, and a possible repair. It will also require the statue to either be shipped back to the County or for a staff member to pick it up and deliver it back to the County when the statue is either repaired or deemed unrepairable due to cost.
Attachments
A - Picture of Crane Unfolding
B - Picture of broken Crane Unfolding
C - Email from BoxStudio Galleries regarding Crane Unfolding Repair