Crescent City is now in the art gallery business after the city council voted to allocate $10,000 to display the life works of eclectic Ukrainian-born artist/sculptor and former Crescent City resident Val Polyanin.
The city accepted the Hambros donation of 914 items for future possible economic development, last June. Hambros found itself with the avant-garde art after terminating leasehold agreements with a tenants on 101 South.
Councilors were presented four options via a power point presentation by City Economic Development Director Ashley Taylor.
• Option One, proceed with hiring a videographer, art researcher, curator and marketing consultant. Utilize city-owned vacant Bank of America bldg. Cost: $28,000
• Option Two, utilize the bank building for displaying to the public the avant-garde art at the First Friday event starting in May through October. The event would be open to the public.
• Option Three, store the art only. No public viewing. No staff deployment.
• Option Four, direct staff as necessary and appropriate.
The City Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) is part of the 2016 Strategic Plan. Councilor support came from Mayor Pro Tem Blake Inscore, Councilor Jason Greenough and Mayor Isaiah Wright, calling the Proposal “a recipe for tourism.”
Councilor Kelly Schellong questioned why the city was involving itself on this item and emphatic in not wishing to deploy city staff. Councilor Ray Altman stated he regretted supporting city acquisition of the items.
Councilors selected option four with parts of option two and allocated the funding to organize a First Friday event to display the art. The funds were broken down as:
$6,500 existing CEDS funding.
$1,500 community donations.
$2,000 new approved city funding.
The motion was made by Inscore, seconded by Greenough and supported by Mayor Wright. Councilors Altman and Schellong dissented.
For the time being the city is going to “ Show it.” After, October the city may have to stow it.
Ashley Taylor and volunteer staff began the task of organizing the six month event, immediately.