Sculptures of a dancer, a drummer and a whimsical bicycle-gear fish will go up around Durango in early summer, a city committee decided Thursday.
The nine-member selection committee chose the pieces after hearing from hundreds of people through an online survey and at a public open house. The art will be purchased for $24,000, or $8,000 per piece.
“I think we are in line with public comments,” said Carol Martin, a member of the city’s art commission.
The wind-activated sculpture of a fish on a bicycle fork called “Frolic” was the most popular of the seven finalists, drawing approval from two-thirds of online voters. It was also a favorite with the committee.
“It’s got a whimsical quality to it and it doesn’t need explanation,” said Charles Leslie, a member of the Public Art Commission.
“Graceful” the dancer and “The Hatch” of rainbow trout also drew approval of a majority of the participants. Voters were allowed to pick their top-three favorite pieces.
The selection committee noted that people seemed to favor less abstract pieces.
“I noticed in the comments people were saying: ‘Please buy something that we can relate to,’” said Gunnar Anderson, the committee’s arts professional.
The group deviated in one case from the public’s top three picks in selecting “The Jazz Drummer.” The metal piece came in fourth in the public polls.
The piece of the rainbow trout, which came in third, was eliminated because it was much shorter than the other pieces and a fish-themed piece is installed along the Animas River Trail.
The group also picked where to place the pieces out of the three open bases.
The commission plans to install “Frolic” near Iris Park and the pedestrian bridge, unless a better location can be found. Some commission members would like to see it placed in a spot that would catch the wind and be seen from a greater distance.
“I would hope you would consider a swap for some other spot. It’s not going to show its full potential,” Anderson said.
The committee would like to see “The Jazz Drummer” installed across from the Durango Arts Center on 8th Street between 2nd and 3rd avenues. Pedestrians will see it coming and going from performances.
“It does have that abstract, yet representation, quality,” Leslie said.
The commission debated placing the dancer near the arts center but decided it fit better along the Animas River Trail near the 9th Street Bridge because it can be appreciated from many directions. “The Jazz Drummer,” in contrast, can only face one way.
City staff will evaluate whether the pieces will fit the sites chosen. The base of “The Jazz Drummer” may have to be trimmed to fit the site selected, and the dancer’s leg may hit a light pole, said Sherri Dugdale, assistant to the city manager.
The pieces will likely be installed in May or June, she said.
mshinn@durangoherald.com
