RSSCity Council approves artwork despite objection
Restaurant owner argues proposed sculpture not a good fit in historic districtYakima Herald-Republic
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YAKIMA, Wash. -- Karl Pasten had one prediction to make about a new, untitled sculpture that the Yakima City Council voted to spend $15,000 on Tuesday night.
"It's gonna take a while to accept it," said a dejected Pasten, owner of The Depot restaurant and lounge in the city's North Front Street Historic District.
The sculpture is going to be installed in a few months right in front of The Depot, and Pasten isn't happy about it.
The way he sees it, the sculpture is too modern for an historic district like Front Street. That's how the city's Historic Preservation Commission saw it, too. Last week the group voted against the site to display the artwork.
But the City Council rejected Pasten's plea to put the sculpture somewhere else, siding instead with other Front Street merchants and members of the city's arts community, who wanted it right in front of The Depot.
Councilwoman Kathy Coffey, a key supporter of the site, had her own prediction to make. She recalled a different time when the historic district was a seedy, rundown mess.
"It's going to show how far the city has moved forward," she said.
The 8-foot granite sculpture is the second piece of public art in downtown Yakima sponsored by the Arts Giving Circle, which pooled $25,000 in private donations to commission the piece by Bremerton, Wash., artist Will Robinson.
The City Council, in turn, agreed to spend $15,000 for the installation of the piece. The money comes from an account set aside for downtown capital projects, not from the general fund supported by tax dollars.
The proposed project flew under the radar until June 16, when Pasten complained about it to the City Council.
The council delayed by asking the Historic Preservation Commission for a review. The commission voted 5-2 against the site, but in the meantime several other groups -- including the influential Committee for Downtown Yakima -- voted in favor of it.
The issue came up for air again Tuesday night, with the City Council set on resolving the debate quickly and decisively.
Nancy Kemotsu, a member of the Historic Preservation Commission, said the majority of her colleagues felt the sculpture simply didn't fit on Front Street.
"This is the heart of our downtown," she explained.
Pasten, also a member of the Historic Preservation Commission, called the old railroad depot an "intact jewel" of history and architecture that rivals Rosedell Manor and the Larson Building as Yakima's most recognizable landmarks.
He said visitors to his restaurant frequently question why a gigantic eyesore like the county jail was built next to Front Street, and predicted more questions of a similar nature about the sculpture.
"Tourists are going to say 'Why is this here?'" Pasten said. "And local people will say, 'How did this happen?'"
His complaints fell on deaf ears, however. The vote was 6-1 in favor of the site. Councilman Micah Cawley was the lone "no" vote.
After the vote, Pasten said he simply didn't have the political pull to go against the sculpture's supporters.
"Movers and shakers," he said of the arts community. "Movers and shakers."
The installation is expected to take place in October. Supporters want to wire the sculpture for lights, but the city may have to wait until later to find the funding.
* Chris Bristol can be reached at 577-7748 or cbristol@yakimaherald.com.
Looks more in tune with The Lofts area of the downtown to me.
Report ViolationI agree with Carl. The Historic District should stick to historical theme artwork to go with the area. That piece of art could have been put 50 different places, but a few had to have their way and steamrolled it in.
It seems to me that an historic district is contiguous with something old. Any artwork there should also depict the era. An Historic District is all about continuity - this art depicts anything but.
Forgive me for my unenlightened opinion that this was $15,000 of wasted taxpayer money.
Report Violationsjuan... "The money comes from an account set aside for downtown capital projects, not from the general fund supported by tax dollars.....
With that being said, I also agree with the above comments that this piece of "Art"(???) doesn't belong in the Historic District.With the amount of money spent to purchase this,it would be wise to inclosed it and not have it out in the open where taggers can get to it. $40,000(total amount) regardless of private funds or where ever the money comes from seems like a stupid investment all the way around when our country is going through the worst economic times we've experienced since the great depression. People just arn't "getting it"!
If we wait until we have consensus on any piece of art or the location where it is to be located, we'll never have public art on the streets of Yakima. Art is not meant to match the sofa, but to add the aesthetics that please the eye and touch our hearts. Thank you, Giving Circle, for your generous donation--a stellar example of public-private partnership! This is a good time for the city or their designated arts commission to design a process for future public art and placement. I would predict that Carl Pasten's the sky is falling is actually going to see his business increase.
Thank you, also, Overfifty for pointing out that the $15,000 requested from the city comes from dedicated funds.
It is definitely possible to have an appealing mix of modern and period pieces together without loosing the impact of the restoration. You are blending the present with the past and they work together. We don’t have any “intact jewels”. We live in a modern society with running water, plumbing and electrical. Try to keep an open mind.
Of more importance is the decision to spend $15,000.00 on installation of this modern art piece. In this economic climate where we are seeing daily frivolous spending, waste, abuse of power and corruption at our expense, how can the city justify spending this kind of money on an item that has no function or value. Where are our priorities right now?
The article stated, “The money comes from an account set aside for downtown projects, not from the general funds supported by tax dollars.” Does the downtown project funding not also come from tax dollars? When we are broke we are broke! I would imagine most of us budget our own money and possibly include entertainment in that budget. When the rent is due we don’t say OOPS, the rent fund is empty so I can’t pay it but I’m going to dinner and a movie cuz I still have money in that fund. COME ON CITY OF YAKIMA!! ART INSTALLATION IS DINNER AND A MOVIE AND WE HAVE RENT DUE!
I don't care what fund the money came from. It's all taxpayer money and it was a total waste. If someone thinks this is worth $15,000, let them foot the bill to install it.
Report ViolationDitto to the many posts opposing this project on its poor financial decision. If it is a separate fund or not it is clearly Yakima City funds, since it takes a council vote to spend it. As Zais himself answered it this money can also be used for projects such as maintenance of parking lots or other projects. Independent of my personal feeling of this piece of art, it just seems ridiculous to spend that much money in this economic time, on something that is placed next to very few of the business' and not even on the main arterial not to mention directly across from a 4 story eye sore of the county jail.
For those 6 that voted yes- bad call!
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