Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission Correspondence - "Continuum" Sculpture Placement Copyrighted
March 19, 2018
City of Dubuque Action Items # 1.
ITEM TITLE: Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission Correspondence -Art
Piece Titled Continuum
SUMMARY: Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission submitting
correspondence regarding the location of the art piece
titled Continuum.
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Council
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
Letter from Arts &Cultural Affairs Commission Supporting Documentation
Valuation of Continuum Supporting Documentation
Letter from Kurt Strand Supporting Documentation
Letter from Don and Ellen Lau Supporting Documentation
E-mail from Lenore Howard Supporting Documentation
THE��oF City of Dubuque
DUB E
Masterpiece on the Mississippi Arts & Cultural Affairs Commission
February 27, 2018
Dear Mayor, City Council and City manager,
We would like to begin by thanking you for your continuing support of the arts in Dubuque. The
support and foresight of this council has helped to make our community, arts organizations, and
artists more prosperous. We once again look to you for your support and leadership in designating a
permanent home for the city's only large-scale piece of sculpture, Continuum, at its current placement
at the Grand River Center.
Continuum has been in the local lexicon since 1973. It has encapsulated many Dubuque moments and
milestones—from its controversial emergence, to its exile from the pubic, to its triumphant return as a
featured piece in the Arts on the River exhibition. Like the community, it has grown in popularity and
in value. Upon its last appraisal in 2016, the piece (commissioned in 1972 for$27,000) was valued at
$200,000; this appreciation makes it one of the city's most valuable arts assets! The Dubuque
community made this investment over 30 years ago, and as such, the community should be able to
enjoy the returns.
Located at the Grand River Center, adjacent to the Mississippi Riverwalk and our revitalized
downtown, Continuum, is a tangible symbol of Dubuque as"The Masterpiece on the Mississippi."
This sculpture speaks to the Dubuque's long legacy and leadership in the arts, and this location could
not be a more fitting place to honor the art itself and the vibrant and forward-thinking community it
represents. To return this piece to the Public Works facility would come at significant expense and
would also be a great loss for the community.
The community has expressed to us their excitement and contentment with the current placement of
this historic piece and we as a con�n�ission unanimously agree that Continuum has finally found its
home. It is our hope that the council will see fit to support the community that has embraced this
piece of art work and the sense of place that it creates.
Sincerely,
Ellen Henkels, Arts&Cultural Affairs Chair
David Schmitz � Gina Siegert � Mary Armstrong � Matthew Gregory � Ali Levasseur � Sue Riedel
50 W. 13th Street, Dubuque, Iowa 52001 I www.ciryotdubuque.org/artsandculture
6-11-2016
Debra Alleyne
Department of Economic Development
City of Dubuque
50 W. 13th Street
Dubuque, IA 52001
Dear Debra:
Below is the Valuation for the Paul Granlund sculpture, Continuum. I consulted with a couple of the family
members,who were familiar with the process of creating the sculpture. In addition,the valuation is based on the
costs of labor and material to create something comparable.
ARTIST TITLE MEDIUM VALUE
Paul T. Granlund Continuum Steel $200,000
Please fet me know if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
� ._--�--�.�....
Greg Hennes
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i 220 glenwood ave n.
minneapolis, mn 55405
612.377.2630
hennesart.com
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GNATIONAL
MISSISSIPPI RIVER MUSEUM
&AQUARIUM
IN ASSOCIATION WI-i H�I HF SMII HSONIAN INSTINTION
March 12, 2018
Mike Van Milligan, Dubuque City Manager
Members ofthe City Council
City Hall
50 W 13�' St.
Dubuque, IA 52001
Dear Mike and our City Council,
I would like to add my strong support keeping the Conrinuum at the Port of Dubuque as a
permanent exhibit. The Port of Dubuque is a vibrant area and the National Mississippi River
Museum & Aquarium believes that Conrinuum, and other public art, is a valuable part of any
visit to the Port of Dubuque. These exhibits, as well as other public art murals and displays,
make the City of Dubuque a creative and cultural destination.
As a long time stakeholder in the Port of Dubuque, previously in my role of President of
McGraw-Hill, and my current role, I have noticed how public art generates visitors to the Port of
Dubuque and to the City of Dubuque. A permanent exhibit of Conrinuum and other public art
gives them additional reasons to spend time in our city, which positively impacts the City of
Dubuque and organizations such as the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium.
Thank you for all you do for our community.
Sincerely,
�-�,•..'° .���'+�"
Kurt Strand
President and CEO
National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
350 East 3rd Svee[ Dubuque,lowa 52001 563.557.9545 Fax 563.583.1241 www.rivermuse�m.com
A property o(the Dubuque Lounry Haroriml Sociery
lanuary 31, 2017
Debra Alleyne
Arts and Cultural Affairs Coordinator
City of Dubuque
City Hall Annex
1300 Main St.
Dubuque, lA 52001 �
Re: Continuum
Dear Ms.Alleyne:
We are admirers of the Continuum and all that represents. We commend you for your vision of having
it moved to a more prominent position in front of the Grand River Center. We appreciate your �
perseverance in convincing the City Manager and City Council to approve the temporary relocation in
2016. We are writing now to respectfully request that the Continuum's location be made permanent.
It would be very meaningful if there were a plaque nearby to explain the artist's intention and purpose
when he created the Continuum. Then the sculpture would make sense to its observers and even its
detractors. And just think how pretty it would be if it were cleaned and polished!
Dubuque is lucky to have this signature piece of art and it deserves a permanent place of respect in front
of the Grand River Center. We hope the City officials will recognize your good taste and good sense and
allow the Continuum to remain where it is.
If you could favor us with a reply, that would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
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Don and Ellen Lau
1859 Eden Lane
Dubuque, IA 52001
Donald & Ellen Lau
1859 Eden Ln
Dubuque IA 52001-4029
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From: David Schmitz
To: De6ra Nlevne
Subject: FW: Leave The Continuum at The Port of Dubuque
Date: Tuesday, February 27,2018 10:26:32 AM
From: David Schmitr [mailto:dschmitz@dbqart.com]
Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2016 10:38 AM
To: 'fishingcamels@mchsi.com' <fishingcamels@mchsi.com>; 'Mary Armstrong'
<mta1246@yahoo.com>; 'ehenkels@mchsi.com' <ehenkels@mchsi.com>
Cc: 'Gina Siegert' <juliensjournal@juliensjournal.com>; 'Debra Alleyne'
<Dalleyne@cityofdubuque.org>; 'riedelsj@aol.com' <riedelsj@aol.com>
Subject: RE: Leave The Continuum at The Port of Dubuque
Thanks, Lenore. I'll leave a formal response to your email up to our Chair, Sue Riedel, or Debra
Alleyne, both copied, but I for one couldn't agree more and greatly appreciate you taking the time to
write this personal reflection on what Continuum has meant, and continues to mean, to you. As a
relative newcomer to Dubuque, your perspective gives me a whole new appreciation for this work
and how it mirrors the changes—and resiliency—that have defined this community.
Also,you should know that all creditfor Continuum's move goes to Sue, Ellen and other long-serving
Commissioners who advocated for this to happen, as well as to Debra and the City (including
engineers and maintenance staff) who had the vision and determination to see this project through.
Thanks again.
David
-----Original Message-----
From:fishingcamelsCc�mchsi.com fmailto:fishingcamelsCc�mchsi.coml
Sent: Wednesday, September 14, 2016 10:05 PM
To: Mary Armstrong <mta1246(u�(u�yahoo.com>; ehenkels(u�mchsi.com; dschmitz(u�dbaart.com
Subject: Leave The Continuum at The Port of Dubuque
Hello Arts & Cultural Commissioners,
(I'm emailing those of you whose email addresses I have but hope you will share this with the entire
commission. And please forgive the length of my email.)
I write in regards to Paul T. Granlund's sculpture,"The Continuum", and to making a request that the
sculpture remain permanently in The Port of Dubuque,where it presently resides. I believe, it has
finally found its home in our city.
I work at Flexsteel in the Port,where our breakroom,with all its windows, faces The Grand River
Ce nte r.
When I first noticed The Continuum from there, I literally leaptwith joy as I had complained for
many years that it had been hidden and literally stored away from the public. Where it is now, it
seems to virtually pull all the enterprises around it into relationship (McGraw Hill, Flexsteel, The
Grand River Center, The Grand River Hotel) and further to The Brewery and the National River
Museum as well drawing the river to the city.
The Continuum and I have a long relationship. It has been part of my history since I arrived in
Dubuque, September 1974. The sculpture was unique in our city at the time, certainly in its use of
stainless steel and, at the time, "modern" interpretation of our city. And I do remember a number of
folks looking at it askance with skepticism. But I always loved its bridge between our past and hope
of continuance into the futu re. I n that regard it was a fit commemoration of the cou ntry's bi-
centennial year, forwhich itwas commissioned. And now, after 47 years, it is a piece of Dubuque
history!
I spent a lot of time with The Continuu m. In the 1990's it was housed on the corner of Main Street
and Sth. My daughterwas very young then, and we lived up the hill on Sth St.So many times we
would walk down and "play The Continuum".Yes, it is interactive;you can pound on it with your
hands, play it like a drum, and listen to it echo back. Itwas greatfun, and, a piece of artto engage
with and be touched. But more, itwas one of my daughter's first art experiences as we'd talk about
it and what it means. (By the way, my daughter now holds a BFA from Milwaukee School of Art&
Design and is a practicing artist.)
I also remember in the early 1990's the economic despair in the city, the last person leaving turn out
the light, cross burnings and the KKK coming to town.And The Continuum remained there as a
symbol to press on through the troubles—and the city did, the renaissance of Dubuque was realized.
But strangely, by the time the renaissance flowered, The Continuum disappeared. For a long while I
didn't know where it went orwhy. Now, I didn't stop living my life because of that, but it always
remained an aggravation to me.
I have been evergrateful and proud of our city's vision in support of the arts.With great
appreciation, my theatre company, Fly-By-Night Productions, has been a recipient of that support
numerous times. Among the many other projects is Art on the River.Stainless steel and "modern"
representations in the sculptures are a matter of course now. Folks may have differing opinions
about the individual pieces, but no one I know is complaining about them being there. Among the
institutional businesses and historic buildings,the artgraces and enhances the environment ofthe
Port. And The Continuum fits in and anchors all of it beautifully and naturally.
I also understand that Paul T. Granlund went on to make quite a name for himself as an international
sculptor and that The Continuum has increased in value considerably since first presented to
Dubuque. Like the sculpture or not, that's a meaningful value for Dubuque, its tourism and its legacy.
I don't know the cost of moving The Continuum to its present site, but, in my opinion, itwould be a
waste of the city's money to now move it back to storage. Let the city embrace it and show, publicly
and proudly, its support of our arts and history.
Let it be- The Continuum is home now.
Thank you foryour service on the Arts and Cultural Commission. And thankyou foryour
consideration here.
Lenore
Lenore Howard
2920 Arbor Oaks Ct.
Dubuque, IA 52001
P H: 563-582-6572
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