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Middletown Arts Commission seeks permanent home for Risley wire sculpture
Summary
Commissioners discussed moving a valuable, deteriorating Risley wire sculpture out of a crowded City Hall foyer and suggested venues including the hospital lobby, Wesleyan University, the library or a local gallery; staff will pursue options and speak with the chamber.
Staff reported the Risley wire sculpture currently sits in a temporary nook beside the elevator at City Hall amid voting and public access, leaving the piece exposed and showing discoloration. Keisha described it as a “very, very, very expensive piece of artwork” that needs a permanent, secure home.
"It is not the ideal place, but it is literally the only place in city hall that it can go unless it was behind the stairs, which is a fire hazard," Keisha said, urging the commission to find a safer, more public venue.
Commissioner Phil suggested the hospital lobby or Wesleyan University as suitable options because of security and public visibility: "The hospital, in my humble opinion, would be a great place." Other members proposed the library’s newer section or the Silvia gallery as potential sites but raised concerns about children’s access, vandalism and whether the piece should be returned to its origins at Wesleyan for educational access.
The commission agreed staff should pursue conversations with stakeholders, including a chamber contact (Vince Capis) and the mayor, and return with feedback at the next meeting. No formal relocation decision or vote was recorded in the meeting transcript.
What’s next: staff will contact potential host institutions and report back with recommendations and logistical considerations such as insurance, security and display conditions.
