River Boat Bench - Gift to City Copyright 2014
City of Dubuque Action Items # 5.
ITEM TITLE: River Boat Bench - Gift to City
SUMMARY: The Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission recommending that the
city accept the gift of a River Boat Bench as proposed and the City
Manager recommending not to accept this donation of artwork.
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Council
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
❑ River Boat Bench Donation Approval-MVM Memo City Manager Memo
❑ Recommendation from Arts Commission Staff Memo
❑ Citizen Letter Supporting Documentation
❑ Photos and Artist Statement Supporting Documentation
THE CITY ODubuque
AI-AmericII a Ciry
DUBi&E r
Masterpiece on the Mississippi 2007-2012-2013
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: River Boat Bench Donation Approval
DATE: December 11, 2014
The City is about to begin a process to develop an Arts Master Plan. The existing arts
programs do not provide for the City to accept donations of art for public display for
good reason. First, art is in the eye of the beholder. In this case, the donor would be
deciding on the artwork and designating the location. This is a location that is used for
display of sculptures for the annual rotation of the highly successful Art on the River
program. Second, there will be maintenance costs and potential liability. The City has
no budget for this purpose and is not currently in a financial position to take on extra
costs and liability.
I respectfully request that the Mayor and City Council not accept this donation of
artwork.
Micliael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
Megan Starr, Economic Development Coordinator
City o-/f- Dubuque
Arts Cu ltu raC A fai r$ Advisory Commission
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Arts and Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission
SUBJECT: River Boat Bench Donation Approval
DATE: November 21 , 2014
INTRODUCTION
The Arts and Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission has reviewed Shawna Lipper's
request to purchase River Boat Bench from artist Don Lawler and donate to the City of
Dubuque to be displayed on the Port of Dubuque Riverwalk in its current location.
BACKGROUND
River Boat Bench was part of the 2013-2014 Art on the River Exhibit. The artist, Don
Lawler of Stevensport, Kentucky designed and sculpted this work specifically for
Dubuque. It is carved out of a single "hard as granite piece of Indiana Limestone". The
work is a contemporary artistic interpretation of a river boat or barge slowly turning out
into the Mississippi River.
The artwork has stayed in its same Port of Dubuque riverwalk location since its
placement in 2013. During the timeframe de-installation of the work was supposed to
occur, two non-profit organizations expressed interest in purchasing River Boat Bench.
However neither organization decided to acquire the work.
In September 2014, Ms Lipper came forward to express her interest in purchasing the
bench and donating to the city.
DISCUSSION
The Arts and Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission discussed the merits of the City
acquiring River Boat Bench and suggest that this sculpture particularly suitable for the
riverwalk because the artist, Don Lawler designed the bench after researching history
and geography of the Port of Dubuque and the sculpture also functions as a bench.
Additionally, the city will receive a 25% commission on the purchase of the bench which
will support the Art on the River exhibit program in the future.
RECCOMENDATION
The Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission recommends that the city graciously accept
the gift of River Boat Bench as proposed by Ms. Lipper.
Cc: Maurice Jones
Don Lawler
Shawna Lipper
Megan Starr
Cindy Steinhauser
Marie Ware
November 13, 2014
Shawna Lipper
2311 Windsor Ave
Dubuque, IA 52001
563-581-7388
PlagmanshawngAhotmail.com
The Honorable Mayor Buol and City Council
50 W. 13th Street
Dubuque, IA 52001
Re: Request for City of Dubuque's acceptance of donation of River Boat Bench
Dear Mayor Buol and City Council Members:
I am writing this letter to you today for many reasons and I hope by the time you are finished
reading it you will all see how very perfect my idea really is. As you know Dubuque has a very
wonderful waterfront where we are blessed to get a chance to share great works of art and also
pieces of Dubuque history. From the Mississippi River Museum and all of its wonder right
down to our tri-county Bridge connecting us to the people who make Dubuque tourism thrive. I
am proposing you accept an "Art on the River"piece that was created by a Kentucky artist after
he researched the history and demographics of the Port of Dubuque. This functional work of art,
called "River Boat Bench"was created as an interpretation of a river boat barge as it slowly turns
out into the Mississippi river. The artist Don Lawler carved his piece out of a single piece of
hard-as-granite Indiana Limestone with the intention of his work to remain in Dubuque, IA. This
signature piece rests on the river walk close to the old Star Brewery at a weight of close to 1500
pounds. Wow!
Dubuque is where I grew up. I am proud to say both my mother and father were great
contributors to Dubuque's economic development. My father (George Lipper) who was assistant
city manager, general Manager of KDTH Radio, and who spearheaded the tri-state bridge project
among many other things worked diligently for Dubuque and its future. He has recently passed
and as a tribute we purchased a bench in his honor at Eagle Point Park, his favorite place,
besides with his family. My mother (Gloria Lipper), the sweet southern belle made dreams come
true all over town. Raising money for Hillcrest Family Services, the YWCA, the Barn
Community Theater, The Grand Theater, the River Boat Museum, and the Blind Society are just
to name some of the great work she did. She was a great role model for Dubuque women when
she became the first woman EVER to be the chairman for The United Way and furthering her
ambitions by leading the girl scouts and volunteering for many community events. My mother
and father also became the first ever couple First Citizens of Dubuque in1982 all while raising a
family of five.
My father has a tribute and I want my mother to have one too. She is more than deserving and
there is no better place than on the river front where she loved to watch the Mississippi river flow
and where she helped to get funding for that very area to thrive. This was meant to be.
I am prepared to pay the cost for the River Boat Bench and a plaque with her name on it. My
request is that the city council accepts River Boat Bench as a donation and it remains where it is
located on the River Walk. Please understand that my agreement to purchase the work and
donate it to the City is contingent upon "River Boat Bench" staying in its current location.
Otherwise the sculpture will be removed by the artist and I will look for an alternate way to
recognize all of my mother's great accomplishments. I strongly encourage the City Council to
consider helping me honor Gloria and the City of Dubuque in this way. Thank you for your time.
Attached are photographs of River Boat Bench and the artist statement.
Sincerely
Shawna Lipper
Encl.
"River Boat Bench"
Artist Statement: This design was created after reading the Wikipedia description for the history
and demographics of the Port of Dubuque. A contemporary artistic interpretation of a river boat
(or barge) slowly turns out into the current of the Mississippi River. The reference includes the past
(river boat traffic and construction) and the present (barges and the riverboat casino) importance
that river boats have for the City of Dubuque.
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