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PUBLIC ART Council votes to ask for alternative design Split council agrees to ask artist to offer another option for $3,500 Comment By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Jan. 7, 2016 at 2:00 AM By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Jan. 7, 2016 at 2:00 AM » RELATED CONTENT • Second Ashland public art proposal submitted • Councilors discuss way forward for public art » Social News After much controversy over “Gather,” the 20-foot steel structure proposed as public art at Ashland’s downtown gateway, a split City Council Tuesday took a compromise direction, voting to keep the artist, Susan Zoccola and her proposal, but asking her to come up with a second vision. The $100,000 installation, shepherded over several years by the city’s Public Art Commission, raised a hubbub of both opposition and support after a special selection panel chose the Seattle artist's proposal in September, with many saying it doesn’t resonate with the historic or Shakespearean tone around the city library and eastern entry to downtown. Supporters said the town should embrace art that expands beyond tradition. On a motion by City Councilor Pam Marsh — and with much debate over the subjective and shifting nature of art — the body voted 4-2 to ask Zoccola to come up with an alternative proposal to adorn the small sliver of land where Siskiyou Boulevard meets East Main Street near Ashland Fire & Rescue Station No. 1. Councilors Marsh, Stefani Seffinger, Carol Voisin and Greg Lemhouse supported the move, while Mike Morris and Rich Rosenthal voted no. The newly invited submission will cost an additional $3,500 and take four to six months, said Marsh. The council will choose between the two. It will only be judged by the City Council and won’t undergo the long gauntlet of the earlier piece, though public input will be invited, she added. “Zoccola gets the commission for the art,” says Marsh, in an interview. “She’s an accomplished public artist and she knows how to deal with engaged communities like ours. We’re sending her all the emails and letters and will be happy to provide her connections with anyone in the community that she wants to talk to.” The council heard many public comments in support of “Gather.” Rochelle Newman, an art professor, said the great Impressionist artists and Maya Lin, who created the Vietnam Veteran’s Wall in Washington, endured similar moments as taste in art shifted course. Artist Christian Bouchard called it “beautiful.” Wendy Eppinger noted that generations have differing esthetic values and we should not be afraid “to step out of our rigid esthetic comfort zones.” Arnold Leisher cited misinformation that contributed to opposition — incorrect allegations that it was in the downtown historic district, was structurally unsound, the PAC was too academic and that the process wasn’t public. When he made his views in support public, he adds, he was “bullied” by email. Artist Bruce Bayard supported Gather, noting all other public art downtown is representational and Ashland could use some variety. “I trust art," Bayard said. "I trust it to grow on me … I believe Gather is a great piece of art.” Opponents also spoke up. Retired police officer David Powell disparaged Gather as “a modern art piece … the fruit of a poisoned tree” that does not fit with the city, the location or the intersection of three historic districts. It could be a traffic hazard that gets run into, he added. Artist Irene Kai said the piece was too “vague” to be displayed widely. David Wick suggested the World Peace Flame monument the city has received, which would be a “golden opportunity” for Ashland to become only the 12th site in the world to have that flame, lit from the main World Peace Flame in Ireland. Keith Swink of the Ashland Historic Commission said that body should pass judgment on it, and it’s “completely inappropriate.” Dan Fellman, who said he has an engineering background, argued that it can’t stand under its own weight — and people will climb it, creating liability. Cynthia Moscatello cited a “public outcry” on social media, adding it “won’t be well-received.” PAC Chairwoman Margaret Garrington, in a statement to the Council, defended selection of “Gather” by a seven-member local panel of people with much experience in all aspects of public art, after considerable public input — and picking from 63 qualified and experienced artists. It was in proper scale for the site, she said, was open to views from its interior and carried tasteful autumnal colors. “Gather” is nonrepresentational, she added, and invites viewers to interpret echoes of Native American baskets, creek eddies, pioneer wagon wheels, sawmills and the round Chautauqua building which furnished the first home for the Shakespeare festival. The statue would be almost 20 feet high, compared to adjacent trees of 40 feet and street lamps of 12 feet. It would occupy about half the Gateway island in width, she said, and will be much shorter than the traditional holiday light tree on the spot. The city sets aside a percentage of transient occupancy taxes levied on visitors for public art, one of the allowed uses of the funds under state law, that amounts to about $20,000 a year. This project represents five years of that fund. Most of it, $60,000, would go for fabrication of the structure. Ashland historian George Kramer, a vocal opponent of the fixture, said Wednesday on Facebook that he hopes the community can collaborate with “this talented artist to come up with some option that represents Ashland and fits into downtown (and) transform this project into a positive community action.” John Darling is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected]. By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Jan. 7, 2016 at 2:00 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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