Appleton council president says city's reputation as a great place for public art has taken a hit

APPLETON - Common Council President Kyle Lobner has some words of warning for his colleagues as they prepare to decide the fate of the controversial public sculpture "The Collective."

The council will vote March 18 whether to rescind its approval of placing the sculpture on the right of way along East College Avenue due to concerns raised by some residents in the neighborhood.

The artwork is made from salvaged propane tanks that have been turned into faces and assembled to make a large head. Artist Paul Bobrowitz's creation has been described as delightful or horrifying, depending on one's point of view.

Kyle Lobner (Photo: File/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)

Lobner said the city's reputation as an arts community is at stake with the council's vote. He encouraged his fellow council members to leave the sculpture in place for the remainder of its two-year lease as part of Sculpture Valley's third season of ACREofART.

"Our community's legacy and our reputation as a great place for public art has taken a hit already over this, and if we force this project to be moved, it's going to take another one," Lobner told the Municipal Services Committee.

“In all sincerity, if I was somebody producing art in the Fox Valley for consideration for public placement, I'm not sure I'd look at Appleton right now after the way we have handled these last six months."

Lobner said the value of the city's word is in question. The council voted 14-0 on Sept. 18 to approve the placement of the sculpture. The controversy erupted shortly after the piece was installed in November.

“We knew what it was going to be," Lobner said. "It had been through the Public Arts Committee, and it came to us, and we said yes. Based on that, there were some significant expenditures made. There were actions taken. There was a lot of work put into this, and now we're sweeping the rug out from under them. I think that's a really poor thing for us to do."

Despite Lobner's plea, the Municipal Services Committee voted 3-1 Monday to rescind the city's approval. The council will have the final say next week. 

Alderwoman Patti Coenen said she supports moving the sculpture because neighbors weren't formally notified about its placement. The city had no such requirement in place at the time, but officials intend to add a notification process for residents living within 100 feet of a proposed sculpture in the future.

"Because we are a little bit new to it, these are some of the things that happen," Coenen said.