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A contract for artwork honoring Grass Valley's past as a mining and lumber hub is expected to come before the City Council today.
Grass Valley artist Kurt Steger is proposing a sculpture reflecting Grass Valley's industry and people, which he envisions as a “gateway to the city,” the sculptor said. It would be placed at the round-about at the intersection of East Main Street, Idaho-Maryland Road and the Golden Center Freeway.
“It's going to be basically wood, concrete and steel,” Steger said. “I'm using the technique of the concrete used in the mining days, and set within the concrete I'm going to be embedding old cast iron wheels and gears from the mines.”
He is working with a local historic preservation group, which is donating gears and other items “that have been sitting out in a field,” Steger said.
Timber frames in the style of the mine shafts will rise up out of the concrete. Hanging from the four timbers will be a large sheet of rusted steel, laser-cut with symbols reflecting key people of the area: Maidu, Cornish, Chinese and miners.
“I'll be working with each of the communities and having them choose the symbol for their group,” Steger said.
Council members are expected to authorize the Public Works department to sign a contract with Steger for up to $50,000 at their meeting today, set for 7 p.m. at City Hall, 125 E. Main St.
Steger has a shop in the old Empire Dairy barn on Miners Trail and another studio in Virginia.
At the previous meeting, Mayor Lisa Swarthout was the lone dissenter when other council members approved Steger's concept. Now is not a good time to spend money on public art, Swarthout said.
Also on today's agenda is an amendment to the yearly lease agreement the Grass Valley Downtown Association holds with the city for its office space at Elizabeth Daniels Park. The amendment includes a provision for adding new lighting on the south side of Neal Street to illuminate the new mural going up on the rear and side of the Del Oro Theater, said City Manager Dan Holler.
Grass Valley artist Kurt Steger is proposing a sculpture reflecting Grass Valley's industry and people, which he envisions as a “gateway to the city,” the sculptor said. It would be placed at the round-about at the intersection of East Main Street, Idaho-Maryland Road and the Golden Center Freeway.
“It's going to be basically wood, concrete and steel,” Steger said. “I'm using the technique of the concrete used in the mining days, and set within the concrete I'm going to be embedding old cast iron wheels and gears from the mines.”
He is working with a local historic preservation group, which is donating gears and other items “that have been sitting out in a field,” Steger said.
Timber frames in the style of the mine shafts will rise up out of the concrete. Hanging from the four timbers will be a large sheet of rusted steel, laser-cut with symbols reflecting key people of the area: Maidu, Cornish, Chinese and miners.
“I'll be working with each of the communities and having them choose the symbol for their group,” Steger said.
Council members are expected to authorize the Public Works department to sign a contract with Steger for up to $50,000 at their meeting today, set for 7 p.m. at City Hall, 125 E. Main St.
Steger has a shop in the old Empire Dairy barn on Miners Trail and another studio in Virginia.
At the previous meeting, Mayor Lisa Swarthout was the lone dissenter when other council members approved Steger's concept. Now is not a good time to spend money on public art, Swarthout said.
Also on today's agenda is an amendment to the yearly lease agreement the Grass Valley Downtown Association holds with the city for its office space at Elizabeth Daniels Park. The amendment includes a provision for adding new lighting on the south side of Neal Street to illuminate the new mural going up on the rear and side of the Del Oro Theater, said City Manager Dan Holler.
