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Mill Valley council approves temporary installation of penny‑covered bear sculpture in Depot Plaza
Summary
After public comment and debate over placement and process, the City Council voted to buy and temporarily place the sculpture called 'MUM' in the Depot Plaza redwood grove and revisit the installation in September to assess community response.
The Mill Valley City Council on Jan. 27 approved the temporary purchase and installation of a public sculpture nicknamed “MUM” in Depot Plaza, after hearing concerns about placement and public input and assurances from Arts Commission members about the piece’s durability.
Deputy Director of Arts and Recreation Jay Ingram told the council the Arts Commission had recommended placing the sculpture on the newly expanded brick area of the plaza but presented two alternate sites after community interest in other locations. "This particular piece of art is extremely durable," Ingram said, adding that the sculpture is cast in concrete and intended to be interacted with by children.
Vanessa Justice, chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission, urged more public outreach and cautioned that large installations can reduce multifunctional open space in the plaza. "Once it's installed, it'll be quite hard to move," Justice said, and asked the council to consider whether the parks commission should weigh in on park-located art.
Arts Commission supporters countered that the sculpture is mobile and has withstood public display and handling elsewhere; Sharon Valentino, Arts Commission chair, said the piece had been exhibited by national institutions and had endured varied weather and use. "It is totally temporary in location because all you have to do is have a forklift, pick it up, and move it elsewhere," Valentino said.
Council members discussed two recommended locations: a low‑ground site under the redwoods on Miller Avenue and a raised planter north of Miller near a plaque. Members expressed a preference for the redwood grove location and emphasized that the work could be moved if the community response was negative. The council moved to acquire the sculpture and place it temporarily in the Depot Plaza redwood grove, with a directive to revisit community receptivity in September and to coordinate delivery and public‑works logistics before installation. The motion passed with the council voting in the affirmative.
City staff provided dimensions and construction details: the sculpture measures about 85 inches long, 44 inches wide and 57 inches tall at the highest point, and the penny elements are embedded smoothly into the concrete surface, staff said.
Next steps: staff will coordinate delivery and site preparation with the Department of Public Works and will return to the council with an update and a milestone review in September to evaluate public reaction and any necessary relocation.
