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Council accepts two donated Guanajuato hearts and approves $4,600 for installation and materials
Summary
The council approved $4,600 to accept and install two heart sculptures donated by an artist from Ashland’s sister city Guanajuato. PAAC requested $3,600 in funding for materials, shipping and travel; the council approved $4,600.
The Ashland City Council voted to approve funding to accept two donated heart sculptures from the City of Guanajuato at the May 20 meeting. Cassie Preskenis, chair of the Public Arts Advisory Committee (PAAC), said the artist had produced heart sculptures in Guanajuato with business‑plan support from Southern Oregon University’s School of Business and had offered to donate two hearts to Ashland at no cost to the city for the sculptures themselves. PAAC identified in‑kind lodging; PAAC requested $3,600 to cover paint and materials ($600), shipping ($2,000), and artist travel ($1,000).
The council approved $4,600 to accept the two hearts. The minutes show the motion to approve $4,600 was made by Councilor DuQuenne and seconded by Councilor Bloom; the roll call vote was unanimous in favor. The minutes do not reconcile the $1,000 difference between PAAC’s requested $3,600 and the $4,600 the council approved, and the record does not specify how the additional $1,000 will be allocated.
The proposed unveiling is July 4, 2025, at an identified SOU installation site on Churchill Lawn near Siskiyou Boulevard; the second heart location will be selected in coordination with Ashland Parks and Recreation and may require additional funds for concrete at installation.
