|
Click here to view the entire collection
Click here to view an index listing
The Lake Oswego Public Art Collection began in 1962,
when a new library was built. Gifts of money from the Friends of the Library
and from private donors provided art for that building. When the current Lake
Oswego Public Library was completed in 1983, the City Council appropriated
$15,000 for art. Art for the new City Hall at 4th and A was purchased with
$50,000 raised by a citizen's committee formed at the behest of the Mayor.
The present method of funding additions to the
collection, as well as maintaining the collection, is through the "Percent
for Art" program begun in 1993, when the new Central Fire Station was built
at 3rd and B. Under this program, modeled on one in Portland and many other
cities in the nation, the construction of public facilities allocates 1.5% of
the total construction cost for a fund to purchase and maintain art for the
city. The only other source of public money for art in Lake Oswego is from the
Hotel/Motel tax, when the City Council authorizes such funding. The collection
has also been enlarged by generous contributions from private donors and from
businesses.
The bulk of the collection is located in City Hall
and in the Public Library. There are maps of the collection available at both
locations. Exterior pieces are in front of the Public Library, in front of
City Hall, and in mid-1999 there will be additional exterior pieces in
Westlake Park and at the back entry to City Hall. The collection currently
contains 71 items, representing 56 different artists.
|
