February 02, 2003
All Not Lost on Lin Sculpture?
Then again, there's today's Randy Gragg column, which suggests that there might still be a way to secure the Maya Lin sculpture for Portland:
Reached at her Manhattan studio, Lin said she's "gun shy -- seriously gun shy" about continuing to try to put the sculpture in Portland. But nearly half of the money for the sculpture's $430,000 fabrication and maintenance fund remains in hand. And prodded for conditions that would keep the project alive, Lin left open the possibility that her sculpture might find a home here.
Meantime, Zari Santner, newly appointed Portland Parks Bureau director, said she wants to meet Lin's terms and is ready to take a resolution to the City Council to prove it.
The thrust of the column is that if Portland still wants the scultpure here, it needs to get "serious soon."
The Parks Bureau's Santner said if Lin is willing to reconsider, she'll move the project into high gear and involve Lin in the architect selection process.
"I know I can convince Portland Development Commission to proceed with the next park sooner," Santner said, suggesting it could be under way within two years. "We can make it happen if Maya is willing to reconsider. I can even take a resolution to City Council."
With the death of the Pearl Arts Foundation, it may fall to the Regional Arts and Culture Council to become "financial agent" for the project.