More art sought for Batavia bridge

The Batavia city council agreed Monday that a second piece of art should be added to the Wilson Street bridge over the Fox River.

It voted to seek proposals from artists for works that represent history, particularly that of Batavia. When the bridge was built in 2008, the city announced there would be four pedestals on the bridge’s sidewalks for sculptures, and that the themes would be art, science, history and nature. “Nature: Sounds of Harmony,” a stainless steel work by Kai Schulte, cost $30,000 and was installed in 2008.

The city intended to install them annually, but deemed it inappropriate to spend money on them in 2009 and 2010 due to the struggling economy. The sculptures are paid for out of property taxes, collected on downtown properties, intended to be used to improve the downtown.

Alderman Jim Volk, presenting the proposal on behalf of the city services committee, acknowledged that some people have criticized the city for spending money on the sculptures.

“Putting artwork on the bridge doesn’t make it safer or relieve traffic. But it just may make the crossing a little more pleasant,” he said, or even prompt people to come to downtown to look at it, then stick around for lunch or shopping at nearby businesses. “ ... it makes Batavia a better and nicer place to live. What it does is make it a great place to live.”

A commission of up to $22,500 is available. Information on applying is available on the city’s website, cityofbatavia.net. The city council will pick the sculpture, but there will be opportunities for the public to comment on the final five choices.