Title
The Reconsideration for the Purchase of the Jeff Segler Oil Painting, "The Boys of Pajarito Plateau"
Recommended Action
I move that the Art in Public Places Board recommends the purchase of The Boys of Pajarito Plateau painting by Jeff Segler for the price of $45,000.
Body
Per County Council’s March 25, 2025 directive, the members of APPB have called a special meeting to reconsider purchasing this painting.
A motion was made by Councilor Havemann that Council ask the Art in Public Places Board, with staff support, to hold a special meeting in April to reconsider the purchase of “The Boys of the Pajarito Plateau.” All five board members shall be present at the special meeting and all five board members shall vote on any motion made for this purchase, and the recommendation shall be given to County Council no later than April 30, 2025. The motion passed unanimously.
A timeline of County Board actions related to this painting, beginning in 2017, is provided in Attachment A.
Public opinion surveys conducted in 2019 and 2021, which offer insights into community sentiment about the painting, are included as Attachments B and C.
Some comments from the public survey results address the price of the painting. For reference, Attachment D presents a list of artwork in the Los Alamos Public Art Collection with purchase prices over $5,000.
On March 26, 2025, County staff reached out to Jeff Segler to request his final and best price for the painting. In response, he reduced the previously discussed price of $55,000 (from the March 25, 2025, County Council meeting) to $45,000. The confirmation email of this conversation can be found in Attachment E.
Attachment F is a picture of the “The Boys of Pajarito Plateau” painting.
Attachments
A - LAC Timeline Regarding "The Boys of Pajarito Plateau" Painting Through 03-25-2025
B - Survey - Open Forum Responses as of 9-26-19
C - APP Public Input Survey 2021 - Segler Section
D - Art Asset List Over $5,000
E - Email Conf...
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