Like a phoenix from the ashes, the Arc of History will rise again, but not in the public realm.
On Tuesday afternoon, a Durango woman placed the winning bid of $565 for nearly a ton of stones from the broken sculpture, just before the bidding closed.
Heather Bailey, a historian and city planner, will collect the rock from the city warehouse with plans to repurpose the stones in a landscaping project and art installation.
Bailey said she is intrigued by the Arc of History’s history and its relationship with the public.
“It will be in my yard so that I can see them every day,” she said.
“I have found the ongoing saga with the Arc absolutely riveting, so I’m excited to have that piece of Durango heritage at my home for us to enjoy.”
In September, the city of Durango dismantled the sculpture, which consisted of stones affixed to a metal base, from its public spot at the intersection of U.S. highways 550 and 160, near the DoubleTree Hotel. The city placed the stones up for auction Oct. 4, starting at $250.
Since it was built in 2014, the Arc led a controversial life.
Durango is home to more than 20 pieces of municipal art, including the dancing Shakespearean Puck on East Second Avenue and the steel cyclists at the Florida Road roundabout. Some of these creations have taken their share of interference from the public, but locals had an exceptionally creative interest in the Arc of History.
The sculpture took many forms as mostly anonymous pranksters and artists played dress-up with it.
But the fun turned sour last year when the stones were vandalized and broken, leading to its demise when the city and artist could not come to terms on fixing it.
“My professional background is in public history,” Bailey said. “Working in the public sphere, sometimes that goes well, sometimes it does not. The public reaction and discussion of the Arc reminded me very much of my career and the types of things I deal with in everyday work.
“The public’s interactions with the Arc have been heated, and sometimes they were whimsical. For its very short tenure in our community, it made quite an impact.”
Recognizing that some were sorry to see the Arc go, Bailey said she has contemplated somehow showing the public her completed project, but hasn’t made a decision.
“Seeing someone repurpose the broken pieces, I think it would be difficult as the artist.”
The artist, Tom Holmes of Pennsylvania, said the Arc was reflective of the Southwest’s native culture and rich history.
The public, however, likened it more to a “rock banana,” “rock kebab” or the simpler descriptor of “turd.”
Bailey outbid about 25 others. Among them was First Southwest Bank chief executive officer Kent Curtis, who had planned to return the stones to the public by possibly erecting a “mini arc” at the new building underway at East Second Avenue and College Drive.
“I kind of hated to see the destruction to begin with. I kicked myself for not bidding a little more,” Curtis said. “I thought it looked like a smile as you were coming into town, and I just thought we could continue its history.”
The city purchased the sculpture for $28,000. It received $23,000 in insurance, which could be used for the city’s next public artwork.
City officials did not return calls for comment on the sale.
jpace@durangoherald.com
