Art commission considers Pizzuti/Haystack donation to Fran Ryan Center as city readies public art plan

The Columbus Art Commission on a recent meeting reviewed a proposal to accept a donated limited-edition digital print, described in the application as Zinga La Quinta, for permanent installation at the Fran Ryan Center.

The print, described by the applicant as a framed, vintage wood-grain–finished television housing a limited-edition digital print by artist Eric Adams, was offered by Haystack (formerly Pizzuti Collections) and presented to the commission by Sofia Lanza of Pizzuti Solutions. Lanza said Pizzuti served as the owner’s representative for the Fran Ryan Center project and that donating an artwork from the firm’s collection is part of that services package. “We were the owner's representative for CRPD. We basically worked as their, owner's rep project manager for the creation of the Fran Ryan Center through construction, through Pizzuti Solutions,” Lanza said.

Why it matters: accepting the piece would add a permanent work to the city’s collection, with the city responsible for ownership and maintenance if the commission decides to accession it. Commissioners and staff used the proposal to raise broader questions about standards for accessioning, labeling, valuation and placement of works in city-owned facilities.

Staff told the commission the applicant provided a maintenance plan and an image with dimensions and that the recreation and parks naming, signage and art committee reviewed the proposal with no objections. Staff cited Columbus City Code section 3.115.05 (noted throughout the staff report as CC 3 1 1 5.05) as the legal basis for reviewing whether a proposed gift meets the commission’s standards on preserving property values, aesthetic quality and prevention of blight.

Commissioners and staff asked for—and were told—some logistical clarifications. The applicant noted the donated artwork is a limited-edition digital print (reported in the application as one of about 20 prints), will be framed behind plexiglass, and that security locks would be included. The applicant said a formal valuation was not included with the application but that documentation of ownership and valuation could be provided. Staff told the commission that the donation can be moved forward for action without a valuation or the commission may condition approval on receiving a valuation.

The discussion also focused on citywide policy. Erin Blue, director of the Department of Development, told the commission that the city is developing a city hall art plan with recommendations on collecting and accessioning and that staff would bring a draft to the commission for input. “The city hall art plan will include recommendations for ... collecting, and that's the thing that we want to bring to you to review,” Blue said. Blue also advised the commission not to hold up suitable public-art donations while the plan is in progress: “The vision development department's position is we shouldn't be holding up good public art while we wait the public art plan.”

Commissioners discussed practical questions that accessioning raises: whether the city or the facility will determine placement, how the city will label accessioned works, how often permanent works may be relocated, and what staff or commission process will govern those moves. Staff and commissioners said a forthcoming written public art plan and accessioning policy should address those topics.

Action on the donation was raised during the meeting. A member motioned to send the item into the city collection for further action and discussion; the transcript records a motion to move the donation forward but does not include a recorded roll-call vote or named tally. The commission and staff agreed to follow up with the applicant on valuation and with staff on forthcoming accessioning guidance.

The commission also noted that the Fran Ryan Center will host both permanent works and rotating community displays; staff clarified that temporary gallery or program works displayed by artists remain the artists’ property unless a separate gift or sale is finalized.

Next steps: staff will follow up with the applicant about valuation and documentation; the Department of Development expects to supply the commission a draft city art plan before spring for review, after which the commission can adopt more formal accessioning guidance.