Geneva pursues policy on public art

When a bronze statue was donated to Geneva in 2009, two aldermen voted to decline the gift.

One said it didn't “represent Geneva.” The other thought it was ugly.

A proposed public arts policy will address the first concern, if adopted Monday by the city council.

It recommends setting up a public arts advisory committee to advise the Cultural Arts Commission and the city council about what art to accept or attain, whether permanent or temporary.

“This is what makes Geneva unique. It is putting Geneva on the map as art-centric,” said Alderman Ray Pawlak, one of the aldermen who had voted against the “When It Rains It Pours” statue.

The policy describes what public art is, outlines the purpose of public art, and sets up a process for reviewing a proposed piece of art.

What it doesn't do is specify what kind of art should or shouldn't be publicly displayed in Geneva.

“Recognizing that public art may occasionally cause controversy, these guidelines are designed to provide a responsible public selection process, which in turn ensures that a secured art work is supported by the community and not subject to transient or ephemeral considerations and pressures,” the policy states.

Aldermen discussing the policy this week referred to the dislike expressed in 2009 over “When It Rains It Pours,” a $40,000 statue donated by Shodeen Inc. for a plaza on South Third Street. The city paid to install the work, including plumbing for the statue's water feature.

The seven-member advisory committee will include a chairman, representatives from the Geneva Park District and four other city advisory committees, and one resident.

It will be charged with making sure public art is considered in the planning and design of public spaces, finding money for installing and maintaining public art, and deciding when public art should be removed.

The advisory committee would be the first to judge a piece of public art, passing its recommendation on to the Cultural Arts Commission. That body would then make a recommendation to the city council. Having at least two groups judge a piece of art before a final vote should ensure the art is relevant and appropriate to Geneva, according to the policy.

Geneva has long valued the role the fine arts can play in public life, including its effect on commerce. Winning artwork from its annual “Art for All” children's contest graces the walls of the city council chamber, the Geneva Chamber of Commerce conducts an fine-art festival each summer, and the Cultural Arts Commission has an annual film festival. The commission is studying the possibility of establishing a cultural arts center.

The proposed policy is available on the Oct. 25 city council committee of the whole agenda packet, at geneva.il.us/agendas/cowpacket.pdf.

The policy will be on Monday's city council agenda.