Center art plan revised

A sculpture of a whale proposed for the front of the Community/Senior Center was just too big for the council to swallow at that site.

The council voted Tuesday to accept Jon Seeman’s 15-foot high “Breaching Whale,” and the other components of his entry that the Arts Commission had selected for the site, but to find another location for them. The decision was based on the lack of space along Third Street between the building and the sidewalk as an appropriate site and the conflict with approved landscaping, which had been designed to soften the massive retaining wall that fronts the building.

“This art deserves a better location,” Councilwoman Toni Iseman said. “I want a committee to determine where.”

Iseman and Councilwoman Elizabeth Schneider were selected to represent the council on the committee, which also will have two arts commissioners and Seeman, to meet with city staff to find a home for all the components of Seeman’s entry. Iseman suggested Heisler Park. The park is being renovated by the city and will require public art.

“I would love to participate on the committee,” Seeman said. “I favor putting the whale at Heisler, but I am not in favor of scuttling the whole project at Third Street.”

He said his bench and mural, two of the three components in his entry, could stay at the centers, but it was unlikely because vines in the landscape plan apparently took precedence. The vines would drape over the wall at the same location proposed for the mural and compete with it, if not obscure it.

Arts Commission Chair Nancy Beverage commented that art is important to the city; it brings in visitors and that translates to money in the bank.

“We need to protect that revenue source,” Beverage said. “There ought to be a way to match art and landscaping.”

The council’s rejection of the commission’s recommendation was rare — only one other occasion was recalled by a veteran commissioner and that was a modification — and flew in the face of support from commissioners and members of the arts community who strongly favored the selection of Seeman’s work.

“I am glad to be part of a commission that unanimously chose this piece,” Commissioner Mary Ferguson said. “I believe Jon’s piece is timeless. It will last forever.”

Only five people of the 25 who spoke at the hearing opposed the selection, and none of them criticized the quality of the art.

“I honor the passion about these pieces, but personally, I feel that the art might not be the best for this site,” said Bob Borthwick, a landscape architect who had contributed to the plan for the project.

“The whale is beautiful, but it needs a bigger setting.”

Borthwick and former Mayor Ann Christoph, also a landscape architect, also voiced concerns that the whale’s proposed placement at the Mermaid and Third Street corner of the site could distract drivers at the busy intersection at the base of the Third Street hill and be a safety hazard.

All four members of the council that were eligible to vote on the selection — Mayor Pro Tem Cheryl Kinsman recused herself because she owns property in the area — agreed Seeman’s art was praiseworthy, but three of them thought the site didn’t do it justice.

“We knew we were going to have a building that was going to be very large,” Councilwoman Elizabeth Schneider said. “We hired Bob [Borthwick] because we knew he could soften it.

“We put the Arts Commission in a difficult position. They did the best they could, based on what we told them.

“Maybe we should have said, tell us if we should have art [in front], but we didn’t. We said come up with an art project.

“I agree with Toni that we need to save Mr. Seeman’s work and put it in a place we can honor.”

Besides honor, the $190,000 award for first place in the public art competition was the biggest in the city’s history and was approved by the council.

“It is my understanding that Seeman will be awarded the prize money in order to save the whale — the other three [council members] just wanted it put someplace else,” said Councilman Kelly Boyd, the lone vote for the commission’s recommendation as presented.

“I think art for the center probably will end up on the patio, but I really would like to see something in front of the wall, just more site-specific.”

Boyd said if the art is installed at Heisler, he would like it placed so it could be seen from the water as well as the street.

George Woods, who lives caddycorner from the centers and supported the installation there, saw an affinity between the park and Seeman’s pieces.

“Jon Seeman took Heisler Park and moved it to Third Street,” Woods said. “The building isn’t the Taj Mahal, but this art would make it a landmark.”

The council-approved guidelines for the competition included a direction to consider the purpose, use and identity of the site.

Commissioner Pat Kollenda said the guidelines also stated that the art was to represent Laguna.

“The competition was limited to artists who live, work or exhibit in Laguna,” Kollenda said.

Seeman virtually defines Laguna Beach artist. He has exhibited at the Festival of Arts for 25 years and his family has lived in Laguna for four generations — his grandfather was the city’s first fire chief.

However this was first time he submitted an entry in a city competition.

“I entered to continue my strong family history here,” Seeman said.

The council’s decision leaves in limbo a selection of public art for the centers. No decision was made to consider alternatives entries or the financial reward.

Further action will require an agenda item for discussion by the council.