The city of Farmington’s municipal art collection soon will grow by four works from area artists.
The Farmington City Council voted April 25 to spend $26,475 on four sculptures featured in the 2024 Art in the Heart Downtown Sculpture exhibit.
“We don’t have a particular budget set aside for any of these things per se,” Mayor Nate Duckett said. “We do have our Community Transformation Diversification Fund where this would come from.”
There were 11 sculptures to choose from, and Mayor Nate Duckett said “all of the pieces are fantastic.”
Duckett said he particularly liked the Warrior Protector, a metal and sandstone piece by Tamie Cottrell of La Plata.
“This particular piece I found intriguing and would be valuable perhaps on the river way – the Riverwalk,” Duckett said.
He also liked Maple Seed, a bronze sculpture by Nathan Johansen, of Provo, Utah.
“It just reminds me of my childhood and walking down the sidewalk throwing maple seeds in the air like helicopters,” Duckett said, adding he heard some people might like to see it placed at the Farmington Civic Center.
Councilor Linda Rodgers also liked Maple Seed and Walking, a weathered steel piece by Jerry Severns, of Denver.
“I think the art project has been awesome for our community,” Rodgers said. “I too like the Warrior Protector. I really like the ‘Little Cowboy’; I feel like for our area that is a historical element.”
The “Little Cowboy” is a bronze by Lawrence Starck, of Loveland, Colorado.
“All are unique and beautiful in their own right,” Rodgers said.
The city purchases the art at a reduced price as part of the agreement made with the artists for showcasing their work in historic downtown Farmington.
Last year the city spent $77,000 on sculptures from the exhibit.
“Last year we went a little big, but there were components to that,” Duckett said, adding that the thinks this year’s price for four sculptures was “a reasonable amount.”
The city will purchase the Little Cowboy for $13,500; Walking for $3,975, Maple Seed for $5,250 and Warrior Protector for $3,750.
“Just shy of $27,000 for the four of them,” said Warren Unsicker, economic development director for the city.
Duckett encouraged Rodgers to make a motion to purchase all four, and she did. It was seconded by Councilor Janis Jakino before the council unanimously approved the decision.
“Hopefully those artists are excited. They will fit well in the community,” Duckett said.
