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Consultant recommends moving 'Tranquility' out of pond; White Rock wind sculptures show conservation challenges
Summary
A conservation contractor advised relocating the pond sculpture 'Tranquility' out of water and reported the clowns and some White Rock kinetic sculptures need treatment; the board asked for the contractor’s written report at a future meeting.
A conservation contractor’s field visit and follow‑up summary — relayed to the Art and Public Places Board by staff — recommended relocating the pond sculpture Tranquility out of the water, citing rusting and prolonged exposure to bird droppings and pond conditions.
Staff summarized answers from the contractor, who recommended against placing permanent sculptures in the pond because of accelerated corrosion and contamination risks. The summary said a thick accumulation of bird droppings had required extended cleaning during the contractor’s most recent visit; staff described removing an approximately 10‑inch accumulation in one cleaning session. The contractor recommended relocation out of the water to preserve the piece and reduce long‑term conservation costs, while noting that such a move may conflict with the artist’s original intent to site the sculpture in the pond.
On other works, the contractor found the Clowns (the mosaic/concrete work near the library) is deteriorating and that repair work could be scheduled next year; staff reported the back concrete area shows losses that can be fixed. The contractor also recommended continued annual washing and inspections of the kinetic wind sculptures at Mesa Public Library and said some White Rock kinetic pieces may have lost protective coatings and face higher conservation costs. For some pieces, the contractor concluded that replacement may cost less than repeated lift‑and‑conserve cycles.
Why it matters: Conservation choices determine whether works are repaired, moved, replaced or decommissioned; they also affect future budgets. The contractor’s recommendation to relocate Tranquility would require board discussion about artist intent, conservation costs and site selection.
Next steps: Staff said the contractor’s full summary and report will be provided to the board and that the board can place relocation or repair proposals on a future agenda.
