Shorewood resident says procedures weren't followed on public art

Shorewood — The Village Board tonight will consider an objection to the process it used for deciding to place a sculpture by one of the world's most respected public artists in Atwater Park.

The sculpture was done by Jaume Plensa and was given to the village by an anonymous donor. It is expected to be put in the park in the fall or next spring.

The Village Board accepted the sculpture in a 6-0 vote in July.The board is expected to hear from its attorney Monday night about the legality of the process it used to decide where the sculpture would be placed. Village Administrator Chris Swartz said the board will be told that the process was legal.

Resident Jay Urban, an attorney, said the village did not give proper public notice that it was considering where to put the sculpture. The village's zoning code does not allow the sculpture, and so public meetings and a zoning change would be needed for the sculpture to be placed in the park, he said.

"It's really a fundamental due process issue," Urban said.

The objection surfaced earlier this month in a letter signed by 20 residents and is detailed in Mary Louise Schumacher's Art City blog.

Atwater Park is a 5-acre lakefront park at the head of E. Capitol Drive.