Finding a porpoise-ful monument

In response to the letter, “Public disclosure needed on dolphin

statue”:

Last year I was offered the opportunity to serve on the Corona del

Mar Centennial Celebration Committee. As a local artist with a strong

sense of community pride, I was honored to help, especially in ways

that pertain to art.

The centennial committee’s proposal to erect a time capsule

monument at the site of Inspiration Point has been met with an

overwhelming majority of public support through the committee’s

outreach campaign. There has, however, also been some criticism that

the process used to select an artist for the monument, the size of

the monument, and its aesthetic nature did not follow an appropriate

democratic process.

In response to these concerns, it should be noted that significant

efforts were made by the centennial committee for the public to

partake in open sessions at the early planning stages prior to having

selected an artist for the monument.

Due to the time sensitivity of the project, the committee made a

proactive decision to offer to the community a design by a

world-class artist in an appropriate location. The committee feels

very fortunate to have the support of an artist of Wyland’s renown.

After Wyland’s preliminary design was revealed, every effort has been

made to acquire acceptance from the community during the committee’s

outreach campaign. I can understand how some may perceive the design

as a “one-option-take-it-or-leave-it” presentation but that

inappropriately discredits the very honorable efforts made by a

volunteer committee to field public input and choose the best option

for the success of the centennial celebration, while considering the

time constraints involved.

As a member of the centennial committee and as a concerned local

artist, I feel I understand both sides of the issue. Clearly local

artists should have the opportunity to participate in the

celebration. In fact, that is my charter within the committee. Art

exhibitions open to local artists will figure prominently in at least

two centennial events that I am helping to organize.

I want to urge the City Council to support the Centennial

Committee’s efforts so we might continue with the momentum

established. Allowing the planning to stall at this critical time

could be devastating to the commitment of volunteers and ultimately

the success of the celebration.

In 1999, I worked alongside the Secretary of State’s Office and

the California State Parks in putting together an art program to

celebrate California’s 150th anniversary of statehood. Much to my

chagrin, bureaucratic malaise and political backstabbing completely

unraveled the state’s sesquicentennial celebrations and eventually,

California failed to celebrate its own 150th anniversary!

The real losers were not those of us involved in its planning but

the people of California. I believe that if we as a community do not

rally around what is currently on the table, a similar fate may

befall us in failing to seize a unique historic opportunity of civic

pride.

STEVE SIMON

Corona del Mar

A 12-foot statue of a dolphin on a 3-foot base? I don’t think so.

Inspiration Point is just that: Inspiration Point. It is not an art

gallery, or a space for large, out of place, sculptures.

Don’t get me wrong, because I love dolphins. The point is

currently is a calming environment, so why make it chaotic and allow

it to block the view of our natural resource, the Pacific Ocean?

The rock commemorating those who donated to the commemoration of

Inspiration Point and those whose names are on that ‘rock’ would be

appalled at this plan, formulated just to make someone -- or the

committee -- look good. I vote “no” on the Wyland statue. Leave what

is there as it is.

As an aside, it is so sad that Old Corona del Mar is being

violated with all of these new three story houses that have changed

the flavor of our community. Driving down Seaview Drive has become a

drive through a tunnel now with all these mega-houses. What is next?

JANE HILGENDORF

Corona del Mar

The sculpture described in the article “Centennial committee plans

dolphin statue” sounds like the right idea in the wrong place. A

centennial sculpture could provide an enduring source of civic pride.

Yet, the proposed sculpture would interfere with the use and

enjoyment of Corona del Mar’s Inspiration Point park overlooking the

ocean.

Inspiration Point is one of few “view parks” in Corona del Mar --

where many residents and visitors enjoy picnicking and sightseeing

year-round with an unobstructed, spectacular view of the ocean. The

park is relatively small and space is limited.

The proposed monument would consist of a 12-foot-high sculpture of

three dolphins atop a 3-foot-high platform, surrounded by an area of

commemorative bricks and a time capsule. All of these things would

obstruct this world-class view and would compete for the limited

space in this scenic park. It is not clear how a world-class view

would be enhanced by an obstruction. A monument of this type would

run counter to the purpose of the park, and would be better suited in

other locations available in Corona del Mar.

In many cities, it is common to place a monument in the middle of

a town square or in the middle of a traffic roundabout, which would

be the equivalent of the center island of Pacific Coast Highway at

Marguerite Avenue.

The center island of Coast Highway offers a prominent location

where the monument could make a community statement and where far

more people could see it more frequently.

Perhaps the monument could be placed in a temporary location for

the Centennial until the acquisition of the Coast Highway right of

way by the city, and then placed permanently in the center island

when the city takes ownership. The placement of the monument in the

center island could be made part of a celebration of the acquisition

of the Coast Highway right-of-way, as a major milestone in the Vision

2004 Improvement Plan for Coast Highway.

Regarding zoning height limits, the Newport Beach’s Zoning

Ordinance Section 20.65.030 protects public views for the benefit of

all city residents. The proposed monument would result in the loss of

public views, and would exceed the height limit on the bluff side of

Ocean Boulevard, in violation of the city’s Zoning Ordinance. The

City ought not violate its own ordinances.

BRUCE COLBERT

Corona del Mar