Whale tale ends in compromise

Even reduced in size, the sculpture of a whale was too big for the council to swallow.

The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to negotiate a contract with sculptor Jon Seeman to relocate the 18-foot-tall “Breaching Whale” from its intended site in front of the community/senior center to Heisler Park, and to negotiate a new contract for an alternate piece of art to fulfill the Art in Public Places requirement for the centers.

“The commission unanimously recommended Jon Seeman’s entry to fulfill the centers’ requirement,” Arts Commission Chairwoman Pat Kollenda said.

In an unusual action, the council withheld its approval, not of the art, but of the art’s suitability for the designated site.

Mayor Pro Tem Elizabeth Pearson and Councilwoman Toni Iseman were appointed to work with the commission, city staff and Seeman to resolve the impasse. Seeman was asked to construct a smaller model of the whale for the sub-committee’s consideration.

“Toni and I met with Jon and looked at a model at the Senior Center,” Pearson said. “Reduced in height, it looked stunted rather than in its full glory.

“We agreed it should probably go in Heisler Park.”

Redevelopment of the park also will require a public artwork, Iseman said.

The whale was one component of three submitted by Seeman in the $150,000 competition for the centers project.

All the artists submitted main sculptures, benches and wall sculptures.

Seeman’s bench didn’t tie into any theme associated with the centers, according to the report from Pearson and Iseman to the council.

They selected a bench created by Gerald Stripling and Michele Tayor to replace Seeman’s proposal, for which a contract must be negotiated.

Artist Patricia Turnier was appalled.

“You should take the recommendation of the Arts Commission,” Turnier said. “That’s what they are there for.”

Appointed commissions and boards are advisors to the council, which makes the final decision on the recommendations.