Money draws more sculpture entries in Batavia
Increasing the prize money for the Batavia bridge sculpture contest worked.
More than 20 artists have submitted applications, city administrator Bill McGrath announced Wednesday to the city council's city services committee.
“There are some very nice pieces,” he said.
The city initially offered a $22,500 commission. That drew only three entries, two of which weren't original works. The third artist had no experience with public sculpture.
McGrath then spoke to local sculptors and the owner of a foundry, and they told him the lack of interest was likely due to the price of metal, particularly bronze, which would be used for the artwork. The $22,500 prize would likely only cover the cost of materials, not the artist's design and labor time.
The city then decided to bump up the bounty, and the winning sculptor will get $30,000 for his or her winning entry.
The Wilson Street bridge has pedestals for four sculptures. The first, “Nature: Sounds of Harmony,” was installed in 2008 and cost $30,000.
The second sculpture is to focus on the theme of Batavia history. The public will get a chance to see the proposals and give comments, before the city council selects a winner. The city has not announced a date when residents view the proposals, thought it's expected to happen in the next few weeks.
The city intended to install one sculpture annually, but held off in 2009 and 2010, feeling it would be in poor taste to do so during the economic downturn.
The prize money comes from a fund supported by property taxes from a tax-increment financing district in the downtown area.