110 W. New York Ave., DeLand, FL
386-734-4622
posted Feb 6, 2010 - 8:36:55am
With a hearty endorsement by member Scott Price, the DeLand Community Redevelopment Agency voted unanimously Feb. 1 to change its rules to allow outdoor sculpture in Downtown DeLand.
Museum of Florida Art Executive Director Jennifer Coolidge and Ray Johnson, chairman of the museum’s outdoor-sculpture committee, made a presentation to the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) about the benefits of bringing art to people by placing statuary in public places.
“It’s a means of revitalizing the community,” Johnson said. “It turns an ordinary spot into a destination.”
They showed photographs of outdoor sculptures, large and small, in communities around Florida and beyond.
“I think this is long overdue. I think this is something well-needed in the Downtown,” CRA member Price said after Coolidge and Johnson had finished their talk. Price owns a Downtown business, Dick & Jane’s, and the historic building that houses it and other tenants.
The Community Redevelopment Agency, or CRA, is in charge of administering a special fund of property taxes funneled to DeLand for improvements in the Downtown district.
Members of the CRA are the five elected members of the DeLand City Commission, plus two appointed members who have interests in Downtown DeLand.
By state law, CRA money may be spent only on projects discussed by the CRA and mentioned in DeLand’s plan for the district. Although the Downtown DeLand plan mentions murals, and CRA funds have been spent on the giant outdoor paintings, it doesn’t mention sculpture, DeLand Assistant Manager Dale Arrington explained.
DeLand Mayor Bob Apgar, chairman of the CRA, said amending the plan to add outdoor sculpture was not the same as approval of any particular work of art, or endorsing a budget for sculpture.
“It only opens the opportunity to pursue this opportunity further,” Apgar said.
Any amendment to the Downtown Community Redevelopment Plan must go before the DeLand Planning Board and the City Commission, in meetings open to the public, before it can be formally adopted.
Coolidge said the museum, too, has more work to do before it is ready to suggest a plan for outdoor sculpture in Downtown DeLand. Among considerations being explored by the sculpture committee are possible locations for sculpture, whether pieces should be permanent or on temporary display, and what the costs will be. She also said sculpture-committee members have talked with the Florida Department of Transportation about rules for placing sculpture near Downtown streets and sidewalks.
Johnson said the committee may suggest a plan for bringing 10 or 12 pieces to Downtown DeLand each year, and buying one or two of those annually for a permanent collection.
Coolidge said, typically, the artist is paid a stipend, perhaps $1,000, to move, install and loan a piece of sculpture for such a display.
In addition to working on a plan to add more art to Downtown DeLand, the CRA is also looking for another member. One of the two non-City Commission seats is vacant due to the resignation of Tiffany Schroeder, who moved to Asheville, N.C. The other non-City Commission member is Price.
The two non-City Commission CRA members are volunteers appointed by the City Commission.
Anyone interested in serving in the vacant seat must file an application with DeLand City Clerk Julie Hennessy before Wednesday, Feb. 10.
Send e-mail to Hennessy@deland.org, or call the city clerk at 386-626-7132.
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Concrete ? Downtown DeLand is already overcrowded, few parking spaces, crowded sidewalks. It would be more appropiate to display in our parks,or public buildings such as libraries or hospitals. etc.
It will be difficult to please all the people
remember the outrage over the bronze scuplture placed on the County Admin. building of "Lady Justice". Some narrow minded folks considered her exposed breast as distasteful-I did not but I objected to the
outlandish price paid from our taxes. This is a fantastic idea if the artists take responsibilty for installation & maintaining their displays.
Please don't expect the public to pay if they are stolen or damaged.
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