by JESSICA TERRELL
Tribeca Tribune
The Battery Park City Authority is saying “thanks, but no thanks” to the anonymous donation of a set of Tom Otterness lion sculptures valued at $750,000, much to the chagrin of the artist’s supporters on Community Board 1.
“I think this is crazy, absolutely crazy,” CB1 board member Tom Goodkind said. “For God’s sake, it’s free.”
The BPCA said it was declining to accept the artist’s offer, the creation of two five-foot bronze lions and five small cubs to go in front of the library on North End Avenue. A sixth cub would have been placed inside the building. The Authority says it is rejecting the offer because the donor is anonymous and because the proposal did not follow procedures for vetting artwork and allowing public competition.
CB1 had previously voted its support of the installation, and on Tuesday its Battery Park City Committee voted to request more information from the Authority about the proper process for commissioning a new site-specific piece of art. But it appears unlikely that Otterness’ lion and cubs will make it to the library.
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