City Council Meeting Date: October 2, 2018
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: Teresa Jensen, Director of Library & IT Services, City ACC Liaison
Title
Consider the acceptance of gift sculpture by Nick Swearer.
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council consider approving the attached Resolution accepting the sculpture "Flame" by Nick Swearer as a gift to the City of Northfield.
Summary Report:
The sculpture "Flame" was acquired by the Save the Northfield Depot organization with the intent that it be installed at the Depot Sculpture Garden. "Flame" was created by now well-known sculptor Nick Swearer. Mr. Swearer started his career at the age of 11 in Northfield, graduated from Macalester College, works primarily with cast and fabricated metals in his studio/foundry located in Connecticut. He is an award winning sculptor and has his work in public and private collections throughout the country and abroad. In his mid-teens, he spent four years in Northfield creating a 40 foot long iguana, Iggy, from 12,500 railroad spike heads. It has stood in front of the Science Museum of Minnesota for more than 35 years (see attached photo).
Funds were acquired from a South East MN Arts Council (SEMAC) grant through Save the Depot, and were spent in the repair of and for the eventual installation of "Flame". It was determined that "Flame" was oversized for the Depot site, and so members of the Depot board approached the City with the possibility of installing "Flame" on one of the two existing sculpture pads at the Highway 3 and 3rd Street crossing. As of yet, no sculpture has been identified for purchase or installation at 3 and 3rd. The approximate size of "Flame" is 5' x 4' x 2'. SEMAC has approved the site transfer of "Flame" from the Depot site to 3 and 3rd for their grant funds.
To process this gift in accordance with the City Public Arts Policy, the acquisition by the City of "Flame" was reviewed and recommended by an ad hoc Public ...
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