Newport to explore options for permanent location of sphere sculpture
The Newport Beach City Council is asking the Arts Commission to identify options for the permanent location of a steel sphere sculpture that has had a home in Civic Center Park since 2014.
The council voted unanimously Tuesday night to refer the issue to the commission for further review.
The sculpture, “Sphere 112,” was installed about two years ago in the 14-acre park adjacent to City Hall at 100 Civic Center Drive.
It was one of the first 10 modern art pieces placed in the park as part of an ongoing sculpture exhibition. The plan was to show 10 sculptures in the first year and 10 more in the second year. In the third year, the sculptures from the first year would be removed and replaced with a new set.
But the sphere, which won a people’s choice award during the park’s grand opening, is “quite popular and it has somewhat of a following,” according to Library Services Director Tim Hetherton.
The city Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission and the Arts Commission both recently recommended that the council keep the sculpture in the park permanently.
It currently sits adjacent to Avocado Avenue just north of San Miguel Drive.
The nonprofit Newport Beach Arts Foundation has agreed to buy the piece from its creator, Ivan McLean, for $15,000 and donate it to the city.
But Councilman Ed Selich proposed that the Arts Commission look at possible locations for the sphere besides Civic Center Park, which he says should be for the rotating exhibit and not permanent sculptures.
“Civic Center Park is primarily a park and not a place to exhibit sculptures. The sculptures are meant to enhance the park, not dominate it,” Selich said. “From what I can see, 20 is about the right number. I think any more would be overbearing.”
McLean, of Portland, Ore., assembled “Sphere 112” from stainless steel rods of various shapes and sizes welded together. The piece is named for its 112-inch diameter.
Last year, McLean re-created the sculpture with 316 marine-grade stainless steel rods after officials noticed that the initial sculpture had begun to oxidize. The marine-grade steel is better suited to Newport’s coastal elements, Hetherton said.
Maintenance of the piece is expected to cost the city $250 annually.
City leaders initially agreed to spend $125,000 annually for the first two phases of the exhibit. The money is used to transport and install the artworks.
More recently, the City Council — with several members who were elected after the council approved the exhibit in 2013 — has emphasized that the Arts Commission should start using money from private sources, rather than city funds, to finance the project.
The stylistic merit of some of the pieces also has been debated among community members. Councilman Scott Peotter, a strong advocate of the exhibit being privately funded, said last year that while he’s not opposed to art being showcased in the park, he doesn’t think taxpayers should foot the bill for rented artwork they may not enjoy.
The Arts Commission has been working toward a plan to that effect, but the future of the exhibit as a whole is somewhat murky.
Newport Beach Arts Foundation President Carmen Smith said the location of “Sphere 112” was thoughtfully chosen by the Arts Commission and that the piece could be an anchor for the rest of the exhibit.
“It should be here. I don’t know if the program will continue forever and ever,” Smith said. “Right now, let’s face it, you don’t even have a third phase coming onboard. This could be it.”
--
Hannah Fry, hannah.fry@latimes.com
Twitter: @HannahFryTCN
