APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A controversial sculpture in Appleton may soon have a new home as city leaders voted to move the art away from East College Avenue Monday.
The Collective sculpture has been turning heads since it arrived in Appleton last fall.
Within 15 minutes of being at its new home, neighbors wanted it gone.
“It looks like it’s dingy, dirty,” one neighbor said. “When I look at my house, I see Mike Meyers!”
The piece is made from hundreds of propane tanks that have been turned into faces to form one large head.
It was picked by popular demand, to be included in Sculpture Valley’s third season of ACREofART.
Sculpture Valley executive director Alex Schultz tells FOX ‘The Collective’ was properly vetted.
“On five different occasions, there was a vote by other members, you know, either city staff, or committees, or common council to approve this.”
Appleton’s Municipal Services Committee and Common Council unanimously approved The Collective’s East College Avenue home.
The city says neighbors weren’t told.
“We missed it when we did not try and meet the needs of residents that live in the area,” Patti Coenen, chair of the Municipal Services Committee for the city of Appleton said.
“Hopefully, that will be addressed in the future, because this isn’t about whether we, as a council or the committee, like the piece, hate the piece, or somewhere in between, for me that’s not what it’s about.”
Schultz says, in hindsight, he believes the location may not have been right for the sculpture.
“Had we known it was gonna get so much blow back, I think we probably would’ve reconsidered that space.”.
Some, like Sculpture Valley Board of Directors President Alision Gates, say removing the piece sets a bad precedent.
“If we can’t guarantee to our sponsors that we can fulfill their needs, then they’re not going to continue to back us.”
Alderperson Kyle Lobner urged the committee to not vote in favor of rescinding the artwork.
“In all sincerity, if I was somebody producing art in the Fox Valley for consideration for public placement, I’m not sure I’d look at Appleton right now, after how we’ve handled these last six months.”
In a 3-1 vote, the committee decided to move the sculpture.
“Being asked to remove it, or relocate it feels a little like the rug got pulled out from underneath us,” Schultz said.
Appleton’s city council has the final say.
Sculpture Valley says it has found two private institutions willing to host it.
If city council decides to leave the sculpture at its current location, it’ll be there for about another year and a half.
Appleton’s city art policy has also been changed. Neighbors who live within one hundred feet of a public piece will be notified before the art is placed.
