Document text
62 °F Forecast | Road Cams Sunday, September 12, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend June 23, 2004 Yreka artist Ralph Skerritt poses Tuesday with his nearly finished likeness of Peter Britt. The statue, planned for the Britt Festival grounds, will come before Jacksonville�s Historical and Architectural Review Commission tonight for approval. Mail Tribune / Jim Craven Restaurateur stumps for statue He hopes public will tell historical review panel the Britt art should be installed By SANNE SPECHT Mail Tribune Steeling himself for battle, Jacksonville restaurateur Jeff Levin is hoping a strong show of public support will encourage the town’s Historical and Architectural Review Commission to approve a public art sculpture at 7 p.m. today in the Old City Hall. Levin is upset the $10,000, 6½ -foot-tall metal sculpture of pioneer photographer Peter Britt was not approved for installation at the Britt Festival grounds at the May 26 review commission meeting. "They have no right and no ruling to judge art," Levin said. "Measuring windows and choosing doors and paint colors is their bailiwick." Levin commissioned Yreka, Calif., artist Ralph Skerritt to create the sculpture as "a fitting remembrance for the most illustrious citizen of Jacksonville." Britt is best remembered for capturing Jacksonville’s early history on film. But Levin said photos alone are not enough to do justice to the pioneer’s contributions to the town’s history. Advertisement Levin said the commission’s main concern seems to be patina finishes on the 18-gauge steel sculpture, but added that the sculpture will rust and age naturally. He said he’s also been asked why he didn’t commission a Jacksonville artist or seek more public opinion before moving ahead. Levin didn’t ask for community input before commissioning Skerritt because he’s been trying to get this project off the ground for quite awhile and no one was showing much interest — until now. "I’ve been talking about this with every artist in Jacksonville for the past three years. No one stepped up to the plate," Levin said. "We wanted a statue of Britt real bad and so we went ahead. Now we’re talking about politics deciding what art will be." Commission member Bill Stanton declined to comment on the statue’s merits until the meeting, but said its fate was tabled last month because the commission was carrying a heavy agenda and was down some members because of illness and a resignation. "They decided to table (the decision) and review it more extensively," said Stanton. "It was on display at the Jacksonville street party and most of the members saw it there." Levin said the June 13 block party offered a great opportunity for him to display the statue and garner more support for the public art piece. Levin circulated a petition. The 53 signatures he collected all speak favorably about the statue, which depicts Britt in his trademark frock coat, hat and beard, standing next to a box camera on a tripod. "Everybody loves it," said Levin. "There are no detractors other than five members of HARC." Jacksonville Mayor Jim Lewis signed the petition and wrote "very interesting" in the comment box. Tom Anderson, mayor of Shady Cove, wrote "excellent." Shady Cove has a Skerritt piece on display depicting a fisherman and his catch. John Enders, executive director of the Southern Oregon Historical Society, wrote a letter in support of the statue and Levin’s efforts. However, Enders clarified he was offering his personal opinion and not speaking for SOHS when he wrote, "I recently had a chance to view the statue and think its larger-than-life size, impressionistic interpretation and high quality all make it appropriate for a public space such as the Britt Gardens." Levin said the statue has approval from Britt Festivals, the county and the city to be placed on the festival grounds in a planter area near the main ticket booth. "It’s going to be standing alongside the walkway in the planter near a big tree," said Levin. Paul Korbulic, director of Jackson County Roads, Parks and Planning, said his department has approved the statue’s placement. City Administrator Paul Wyntergreen said the concept of a Peter Britt statue was approved at a meeting last December. However, he said, that does not remove the historical review commission from the loop. "The council endorsed the concept, but nothing to do with design or location," he said. "HARC has final decision and will be reviewing (it) tomorrow night." But Stanton said the commission’s bylaws state the council can overrule its decisions. "They can and have reversed HARC decisions in the past," said Stanton. Skerritt said he’s open to commission input and feels the public often needs to be educated about art. Skerritt attended last month’s meeting and said he will attend tonight’s meeting — and he’s bringing his art. "I’ll be there at 6:30 and we’ll unload Peter Britt and his camera so he’ll greet you as you go in the door," said Skerritt. Interest in metal began in youth Artist Ralph Skerritt, 60, says he’s been interested in metal sculpting ever since high school. His love of cars and art had his mind spinning in creative directions during auto shop and art classes, he says. Skerritt’s art has been increasingly visible since he moved to Yreka in 1953. A cow stands in a field gazing out at Interstate 5 in Northern California, a miner and his mule stand frozen in time in Yreka, and a fisherman and his big catch remind viewers of the one that got away in Shady Cove. His latest work is a sculpture of legendary Jacksonville photographer Peter Britt poised beside his camera. The cold-rolled steel sculpture is welded together along with found pieces of metal. The impressionistic rendering stands 78 inches tall and is awaiting its final patina — and final approval to be placed at the Britt Festivals grounds in Jacksonville. The patina, says Skerritt, will come with time and touch. Skerritt’s unique creations are meant to be handled. It’s not only OK to touch his art, it’s a part of the process, says the artist. "When you touch (Britt’s) hand, you leave oils. And that creates another texture," says Skerritt. "That’s what sculpture is all about. Your curiosity overcomes your childhood inhibitions, ‘Don’t touch that.’ You gotta touch it. It sparks your imagination because it’s different." Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities