HomeMy WebLinkAbout17 - Appointment of a New City Arts Commissioner to Fill an Unscheduled VacancyPORT CITY OF
O �
_ i NEWPORT BEACH
City Council Staff Report
<i FO RN
April 9, 2019
Agenda Item No. 17
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Leilani I. Brown, City Clerk - 949-644-3005,
(brown@newportbeachca.gov
PREPARED BY: Jennifer Nelson, Assistant City Clerk
PHONE: 949-644-3005
TITLE: Appointment of a New City Arts Commissioner to Fill an Unscheduled
Vacancy
ABSTRACT:
Due to the resignation of Grace Divine from the City Arts Commission, the City Council
has the opportunity to fill the vacant position pursuant to City Council Policy A-2 (Board,
Commission and Committee Appointments), City Charter Sections 702 and 705, and the
Maddy Act.
RECOMMENDATION:
a) Determine that the action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines
because it will not result in a physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly;
and
b) Appoint Maureen Flanagan or Ritch LeGrand to fill the unexpired balance of Grace
Divine's term on the City Arts Commission ending June 30, 2021.
FUNDING REQUIREMENTS:
There is no fiscal impact related to this item.
DISCUSSION:
On February 11, 2019 Commissioner Grace Divine resigned from her seat on the City
Arts Commission. Her term is not scheduled to expire until June 30, 2021.
Pursuant to City Charter Sections 702 and 705, and City Council Policy A-2, the City
Council's new appointee to the City Arts Commission will serve the balance of
Ms. Divine's unexpired term.
17-1
Appointment of a New City Arts Commissioner to Fill an Unscheduled Vacancy
April 9, 2019
Page 2
According to the Maddy Act and City Council Policy A-2, the City Clerk prepared and
posted a Notice of Unscheduled Vacancy on Wednesday February 13, 2019, in the City
Clerk's Office, at the Central Library, on the bulletin board in the City Council Chambers,
and on the City's webpage, and published the Notice in the Daily Pilot on Saturday,
February 16, 2019.
Pursuant to City Council Policy A-2, Mayor Diane Dixon appointed Mayor Pro Tem Will
O'Neill and Council Members Brad Avery and Joy Brenner to the City Council ad hoc
committee to review the applications. At the conclusion of the application period, the
applications were forwarded to the committee for their review and scheduling of
interviews. Interviews were conducted on Tuesday, March 26, 2019, and the committee
is recommending the City Council consider appointing Maureen Flanagan or Ritch
LeGrand to fill the unexpired term on the City Arts Commission. Copies of their
applications are attached hereto as Attachment A.
Appointment Process
Appointments to the City Arts Commission will take place in the following manner:
A. The voting will be done by paper ballot and the City Clerk will tabulate and
announce the results, including the vote tally.
B. Each member of the City Council will cast one vote on the paper ballot. In order
to be appointed, an applicant must receive at least four votes.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
Staff recommends the City Council find this action is not subject to the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not
result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment)
and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA
Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no
potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly.
NOTICING:
The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of
the meeting at which the City Council considers the item).
ATTACHMENT:
Attachment A — Applications
17-2
ATTACHMENT A
Summit by Email I I Print Form
APPLICATION WgItC"TIVE POSITION
FOR OFFICE USE ONLY
Residence District No.
Verified by1 Aq
Policy A-13 Sent �
2018 kPR -2 PM 2'. OR
Fa OF
7 �QTY CLEW
oN tF NWAT FRP
CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
100 Civic Center drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660
City Clerk (949) 644-3045
Fax (949) 644-3039
DIRECTIONS: One application can be used for all the appointive positions you are applying for. Applications should be filled out
completely so that the City Council may fully evaluate your qualifications. It is the responsibility of the applicant to familiarize themselves
with the duties and responsibilities of the position(s) applied for. Detailed information outlining the responsibilities of the positions can
be obtained from the City Clerk's Office or on the City's website: www.newportbeachca.gov (City Government/Boards, Commissions and
Committees). Applications will be kept on file for two years for the position(s) applied for. If you are not selected for appointment during
that period of time, it will be necessary for you to re -submit an application if you are still interested in being considered.
NOTICE: Section 702 of the City Charter requires that members of Boards or Commissions appointed by the City Council shall be from the
qualified electors of the City. This document is a public record and may be posted on the internet,
NAME OF BOARD, COMMISSION OR COMMITTEE: City Arts Commission
Name: Flanagan Maureen Anne
(Last) (First) (Middle)
Residence Address (required): Zip Code:
How long have you lived in Newport Beach? 15 years Home/Cell #:
Business Address:
Business Phone:
Finail Address:
Have you ever been convicted of any crime or violation of any law or statute other than minor traffic violations?
�]X NO ❑ YES (if yes, attach separate sheet with explanation)
NOTICE: Pursuant to Section 702 of the City Charter, no members of boards or commissions shall hold any paid office
or employment in the City government.
Do you currently hold any paid office or employment with the City of Newport Beach, including but not limited to contracted services?
0 NO E] YES (If yes, attach separate sheet with explanation)
If applying for a position on the Finance Committee, have you declared bankruptcy in the last 10 years? [-] NO F-] YES
Please state any past, current or foreseeable future financial interests of any kind that may conflict with the Board, Commission or
Committee you are applying for.
None
CONTINUE TO PAGE TWO
17-3
Name and Location of Colleges)
Universities Attended
Major
Degree
Last Year
Attended
California State University @ Long Beach
Business
MBA
1984
University of Southern California
Business
Bachelor of Science
1978
City of Tustin Audit Committee
1990's
Prior or Current Civic Experience (include membership in
professional, charity or community organization)
Office Held
(if any)
Dates of
Membership
SPIN (Serving People in Need)
Treasurer
2012 -current
Catholic Diocese of Orange- Finance Council
Chairperson
2008 -current
Newport Bay Conservancy
2008 -current
City of Tustin Audit Committee
1990's
Occupational History. Begin with your present or most recent position. List all positions separately held for the last five years.
Firm or Organization
Type of Business
Title
Dates of Employment
First Republic Bank
Wealth Management & Banking
Managing Director
6/2612012 -current
References. Include names of at least two residents of Newport Beach who are not officially connected with the City.
1. Name Laura Ruiz Address Phone No.
2. Name Kathryn Smith Address Phone No.
Summarize why you wish to serve the City of Newport Beach on a board, commission or committee. Include any special qualifications
you have which are particularly appropriate to the position for which you are applying.
I enjoy living in Newport Beach and it is my forever home. I am interested in giving back to my community and keeping the historical
beauty of Newport preserved while supporting all the arts in the city.
I certify that all statements made on this application are true and correct to the best of my knowledge. I have read and understand the
duties and responsibilities of the particular positions) that I am applying for and authorize the release of this information on the internet.
[BOX MUST BE CHECKED IF SUBMITTING ELECTRONICALLY]
Fv-1 Signature Maureen A, Flanaga Date 3/28/2018
7-
17-4
APPLICATION FOtPGh*dE POSITION
FOR OFFICE USE ONLY
Residence District No.
Verified by s.1m—
Q C �
OFT17 OF
j CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
100 Civic Center Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92650
City Clerk (949) 644-3005
Fax (949) 544-3039
DIRECTIONS: One application can be used For all the appointive positions you are applying For. Applications should be filled out
completely so that the City Council may fully evaluate your qualifications. It is the responsibility of the applicant to familiarize themselves
with the duties and responsibilities of the position(s) applied for. Detailed information outlining the responsibilities of the positions can
be obtained from the City Clerk's Office or on the City's website: www. new portbeachca.gov (City Government/Boards, Commissions and
Committees). Applications will be kept on file for two years For the position(s) applied for. If you are not selected for appointment during
that period of time, it will be necessary For you to re -submit an application if you are still interested in being considered.
NOTICE. Section 702 of the City Charter requires that members of Boards or Commissions appointed by the City Council shall be trom the
qualified electors of the City. This document is a public record and maybe posted on the interrnet.
NAME OF BOARD, COMMISSION OR COMMITTEE:
Ey Arts Commission
Name: LeGrand ERRtch
(Last)
Residence Add ress (requ ire d) :
(First) (Middle)
Zip Code:
How long have you lived in Newport Beach? 4 years Home�Cell 4:
Business Address: NA (retired) Business Phone:
Email Address:
�-
Have you ever been convicted of any crime or violation of any law or statute ❑ther than minor traffic violations?
0 NO ❑ YES (if yes, attach separate sheet with explanation)
NOTICE: Pursuant to Section 702 of the City Charter, no members of boards or commissions shall hold any paid office
orempioyment in the City government.
Do you currently hold any paid office orempioymentwith the City of Newport Beach, including but not limited to cuntracted services?
0 NO ❑ YES (If yes, attach separate sheet with explanation)
If applying for a position on the f=inance Committee, have you declared bankruptcy in the last 10 years? 0 NO [-] YES
Please state any past, current or foreseeable future financial interests of any kind that may conflict with the Board, Commission or
Committee you are applying for.
None.
VETO PAGE TWO
17-5
Name and Location of Colleges/
Universities Attended
Major
Degree
Last Year
Attended
University of South Dakota
Business Administration
Bachelor of Science
1972
University of Colorado
Business Administration
NA
1971
University of Kansas
NA
NA
1969
Prior or Current Civic Experience (include membership in
professional, charity or community organization)
Office Held
(if any)
Dates of
Membership
Art Center Association of Sioux City
President
2000-2003
State of Iowa Cultural Trust
Board of Trustees
2004-2008
Society of Real Estate Appraisers
National President
1976-2014
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
Advisory Council, Board Member
2000-2002
Occupational History. Begin with your present or most recent position. List all positions separately held for the last five years.
Firm or Organization
Type of Business
Title
bates of Employment
LeGrand & Company, Inc.
Real estate appraisal, sales and leases
President & CEO
1976-2014
References. Include names of at least two residents of Newport Beach who are not officially connected with the City.
1. Name Cathy Voreyer (banker) Address
Phone No.
2. Name Terry Nemnich (architect) Address Phone No. I I I I
Summarize why you wish to serve the City of Newport Beach on a board, commission or committee. Include any special qualifications
you have which are particularly appropriate to the position for which you are applying.
Please see attached cover letter and attachments.
I certify that all statements made on this application are true and correct to the best of my knowledge. I have read and understand the
duties and responsibilities of the particular position(s) that I am applying for and authorize the release of this information on the internet.
Signature Date March 7, 2018
17-6
March 7, 2019
Honorable Diane B. Dixon, Mayor
And City Council Members
City of Newport Beach
100 Civic Center Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660
Dear Mayor Dixon and Council Members:
I am excited to submit the attached application for the vacant position on the Newport Beach City Arts
Commission. I have lived in Newport Beach for the past four plus years after my retirement, and
previously lived in Sioux City, Iowa. I have attached a copy of my personal commercial real estate
business resume for your reference.
I would like to highlight a few reasons why I believe I am qualified to serve on the City Arts Commission:
• I previously served as President of the Art Center Association of Sioux City, working with a non-
profit volunteer Board of Directors. The primary responsibility of the Association was to raise
money to fund SO% of the annual budget for general operations, exhibitions and continued
development of the permanent collection. During my Presidency, we created a highly successful
public art project that raised significant money for the Art Center while increasing its visibility in
the community. I have attached a photograph of the Sioux City Art Center only to give you a
sense of the size and quality of the institution.
• 1 was appointed by the Iowa Speaker of the House as his representative on the Iowa Cultural
Trust. The Trust provided grants to qualified Iowa non-profit arts and humanities organizations,
accepted gifts, bequests and donations, and determined investment income.
• After my retirement, my wife and I made the largest single donation of artworks in the history of
the Sioux City Art Center. Also included in the donation were over 200 coffee table size art
books to enhance the Art Center's newly expanded reference library. A copy of some of the
paintings, drawings and sculptures from the exhibition catalog is attached for your reference.
• I purchased and subsequently donated to a non-profit entity a vacant 1920's -era RKO Orpheum
Theatre prior to its multi-million dollar restoration. The highly successful 2700 seat performing
arts facility has hosted performances ranging from Bob Dylan to Wynton Marsalis, Jerry Seinfeld
to touring Broadway shows and to an annual free concert by the Sioux City Symphony for all
fifth grade students in the community. A photo of the completed theatre is attached.
I realize that I may be considered by some to be a newcomer to Newport Beach, and therefore not
qualified for membership on the Commission. While the information I have provided demonstrates my
life-long commitment to cultural arts in a different community, I am now proud to be a resident of
Newport Beach. I have attended past Concerts on the Green and Art in the Park events, and also made a
concerted effort to study past agendas, minutes and study sessions of City Arts Commission meetings. I
now hope to be able to bring my passion for the arts to the Newport Beach City Arts Commission. Thank
you for your consideration, and I am available for an interview if desired.
17-7
BITCH LeGRAND, C:CIM C FE MAI
NAI LeGrand & Company
FAX
CELL
wwwdWa n d rea lestate.com
Ritch LeGrand is the President & CEO or NAI LeGrand & C'cmpany, lie was the i411h pc n amor3g marc than 11,000
designated members worldwide to earn the highest commercial lral estate designation in inveslm4nl brokerage (C'C'IM),
counseling (CRE) and appraisal (MAI). He is a past national President of the largest Teal estate apprai-A organization iii
the United States, former Chairman of die Appraisal Standards Bonrd in Washington, D.C., and a past Trustee of 7'11e
Appraisal Foundation. Mr. LeGrand is a past member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Advisory Council nn
Agriculture, Labor and Small Business, and was appointed by the first Bush administration to the Resolution Trust
Corporailon Real Estate Advisory Hoard.
He has extensive experience as an expert witness in real estate related litigation, has testified f )ur titres before the U.S.
Congress, and appcarnd ars C -SPAN. Mr. ].eGrand has been interviewed by more than forty newspapers and publications,
served as a speakcr or panel mvmbcr at over sixty prufessional meetings, and has taught commercial real estate courses and
sert,inars in tun states. He is a pa_tit Chairman of the Kcal Estate Program Advisory Council at the Uarivers ity or Northern
Iowa and urvvd on the national Board of 1)imctors or Rho P.psi[on, the scholastic real estate fraternity.
Mr. LeCirand holds a certificate in Corporate Real Estate Services from NAI Global and has completed co -broker
transactions representing national and international carpomtiens with NAI Glc,hal (Boston, Minneapolis), CB Richard Ellis
(ChicaW, New York, Omaha), Cushman & Wakefield (Dallas), Trammel Crow (Phoenix), Colliers (St. LOUi5. Milwaukee),
5taubach Company (Chicago), CRESA Partners (Newport Beach) and Grubb & Ellis (Omaha). iJnder his management,
NAT LeGrand & Company has implemented a wide variety of sophisticated databases, software, and online sy,teins to
place the firm in the forefront of technologically advanced commercial brokerage companies.
As an active participant in local civic organizations, he was elected to the Sioux City C.ontantuilty Schools Board of
Education, was Chairman of the Sioux City Chamber of Commerce, and has been named REALTOR or the Year. He was
the first Chairman of the Sioux City Convention Center Board of Trustees and is a past Chairman ofthe %ioex City Central
City Executive Committee. He served eight years on the Executive Committee of the Siouxiand Initiative economic
developnreni organization, and is a last President of Greater Siouxland, n private organization of Irrcal CF -O's. Mr.
LeGrand is a past President of the Sioux City Art Center Board of Directors and was named by the Tows Spcaker of ilie
House to serve on the Board of Trustees of the Iowa Cultural Tntst. Carly in his career he was named one oF25 Iowa Up -
and -Comer udder the age af40 by ]lie Des Maines Register.
IVAI LeGrand & Company
CurnmemW Fleal Falate SwncQs, Worowide.
17-8
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17-10
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The Sioux City Art Center exists to enrich the lives of the people of
Sioux City and its surrounding region. In turn, the Art Center could not
accomplish its mission without the support of the community. The most
direct way in which the Art Center and the community work together is
through the growth of the permanent collection. All of the artworks that
are in the Art Center's permanent collection, amassed for the long-term
benefit of the community, have come either through the direct donation
of those artworks or through gifts of funds that have allowed for
occasional purchases.
The artworks illustrated in this catalog represent a promised gift from
Ritch and Kathy LeGrand. The gift is important in many ways, not the
least of which is that it includes the largest number of artworks in a
single donation in the history of the Sioux City Art Center. Totaling more
than forty artworks, the paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, and
sculptures in the LeGrand Collection expand the Art Center's already
robust collection of work by local and regional artists.
It is with utmost gratitude to Ritch and Kathy that we present these
artworks. They have supported the Art Center in many ways for many
years. This catalog, the exhibition of the work, and, most important, the
promised donation of the artworks takes their commitment to the cultural
well-being of the community to new heights. On behalf of the Art Center
Association of Sioux City and the Sioux City Art Center, I offer my most
heartfelt thanks to Ritch and Kathy LeGrand for their unprecedented gift
of art to the community.
17-12
Unknown Artist
Door, undated
painted wood
48.25" x 27.25" x 1"
Paolo Fraternali
Eykon, 2003
oil on canvas
44.25" x 33.5"
The LeGrand Collection
Ritch and Kathy LeGrand
My life-long interest in art began as a student at the
University of Colorado. A friend of my roommate's would
regularly visit our fraternity house for nine months to
work on a portrait of Albert Einstein that he painted on
our bedroom wall. Of course, the real reason he visited so
often was to drink free beer and listen to music in addition
to his painting. This was my first introduction to the
mind of an artist, and I liked it. I also became fascinated
by watching his composition come to life and by his
application of paint and elegant brushstrokes. This set in
motion my desire to collect and, subsequently, I purchased
my first piece of original art from him, a commission
painting for which I paid the grand total of $500.
After college, I often visited another college roommate
who lived in Los Angeles. He came from a family of very
prominent Los Angeles collectors and was starting his
own collection of world class contemporary art. I was
fortunate to follow him on tours of several museum
exhibitions, the highlight of which was shaking hands
with Andy Warhol at the Museum of Contemporary Art.
At this point, I set out looking and learning in as many
places as I could, so whenever I traveled I always tried
to carve out extra time to visit the major art museums,
including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of
Modern Art, the Guggenheim and the Whitney in New
York City, the National Gallery of Art and the Hirschhorn
Museum in Washington, DC, the Art Institute in Chicago,
6
17-13
the Kimball in Ft. Worth, the Walker Art Center in
Minneapolis, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art,
and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and Norton
Simon Museum in Los Angeles.
With increased knowledge gained during these many
visits to galleries and museums, I realized that I not only
wanted to see great art in museums, but I also wanted to
live with great art. As I began my collection, the natural
first stop was the Sioux City Art Center, where I quickly
learned that original and important art was being made
in Sioux City and throughout the Upper Midwest. While
Kathy and I have enjoyed collecting contemporary art on
our international travels (several examples are included
in this catalog for reference), the building blocks of our
collecting have always been local and regional artists.
The real challenge of my early collecting was budget,
so my initial purchases were prints and lithographs.
As I became more serious, it was my desire to acquire
contemporary art that demonstrated great diversity
and different media including paintings, drawings,
sculptures, watercolors, photographs, lithographs,
serigraphs, ceramics and pottery.
Diversity has always been at the center of our collecting
philosophy, but I did not want to simply collect a wide
variety of art from what was available, I wanted to focus
on the best of what was available.
FA
J. L.
Gong, undated
steel and wood
73"x50"x9"
Liang Guiyuan
Landscape, undated
ink on paper
21.75" x 24"
Sigridur Hjaltadottir
Lilies #2, 2006
mezzotint, 12/25
8.75° x 11.75"
17-14
been supported by the Collections Committee and the
Board of Directors of the Art Center Association of Sioux
City. We are grateful for their early and enthusiastic
support of this undertaking.
Finally, it is well known that an active and vibrant arts
community is essential to the quality of life in a city. In
this regard, Sioux City is blessed. I have always been
an avid supporter of the arts in Sioux City, first with
my donation of the Orpheum Theatre building to the
Orpheum Theatre Restoration Project, Ltd. in advance of
its magnificent restoration, and now with the donation
of 50 contemporary artworks and 200 fine art books
to the Sioux City Art Center. Although our collection
is known within artist circles, it is not familiar to the
general public. Kathy and I are therefore grateful for the
opportunity to share it with the Siouxland community for
years to come. It is our hope that these works of art will
touch the lives of others as much as they have touched
our own.
Bruce Pizzichillo and Dari Gordon
Mosaic Bowl, ca. 2003
blown glass
10.5" x 17.5" diam
9
Lisa Kristine
Red --Ethiopia, 2006
wet process print on Fuji Crystal paper
10" x 13"
Lisa Kristine
Silence --Tibet, 2006
wet process print on Fuji Crystal paper
10° x 13"
Lisa Kristine
Sweeper --Marrakech, 2006
wet process print on Fuji Crystal paper
10" x 13"
17-15
A Regional RInflection
When Ritch LeGrand bought his first work of art, he had a strong sense
that it would not be his last. But the LeGrand collection was amassed
one work at a time. Each artwork added to the collection has had its own
special reason for catching Ritch's eye. Today, the collection includes
more than 70 works acquired from Sioux City artists and from artists
across the globe.
Decades after the collection started, it now contains three dozen artists
who represent Sioux City and the region supported by the Sioux City Art
Center. While the entire LeGrand collection includes works from Africa,
Asia, Europe, and areas of the United States beyond the Midwest, the
Sioux City Art Center has selected artworks that connect directly with
its mission of exhibiting artists from Sioux City and the Upper Midwest.
In fact, all of these artworks have come either from artists who live and
work in or near Sioux City or from artists who were exhibiting their
work at the Art Center. That is what makes the collection amassed by
Ritch and his wife Kathy so important for the Sioux City Art Center: it's
a homecoming, a celebration of what the Art Center has been doing
throughout its history.
Among the first artworks to which Ritch responded were those by local
artist Jan Hyden. When he purchased Hyden's untitled canvas, his intent
was to display it in his office. When it didn't fit, it came home. Ritch
recognized not only that the painting was a visually stimulating addition
to his house, but that the artist who made the painting represented the
creativity of Sioux City.
Once Ritch began collecting in earnest, he began visiting group
exhibitions of local and regional artists at the Art Center with his eyes
iN
17-16
open to potential additions to his collection. In 1990, he attended
the Art Center's first Salon Soiree, a one-night fund raising event in
which regional artists installed their works salon style. Ritch purchased
Dissertation on 6 "F" Words by Jeff Freeman, a professor at the
University of South Dakota in Vermillion, and Iowa Sculptor Succumbs to
Public Opinion by Mac Hornecker, a professor at Buena Vista University
in Storm Lake.
Two years later, the Art Center held another Salon Soiree, and Ritch
returned to add to his growing collection. He purchased 7:30 A.M. by
Tom Becker, Bridging by Rick Johns, Many Buddhas, Two Cats by Ron
Johns, and Iron John by Frank Polizzi. One black -and -white photograph,
one hand -colored photograph, one mixed media painting, and one
sculpture. Figurative, still life, abstracted, and non-representational
artworks. As Ritch was building the collection, rather than trying to
assemble a group of works similar in medium, style, or theme, he
focused on satisfying the most important criterion any collector should
have: the collector's taste.
Over the course of the next 15 years, Ritch would continue to visit Art
Center exhibitions, always open to the possibility that a new artwork
would catch his attention. He purchased works by Sioux City artists
such as Jeff Baldus, Karen Chesterman, Gary Ford, Larry Lightbody, Terri
Parish McGaffin, Sheila Wehh, and Jan 7_elfer-Redmond. Ritch added work
by artists in the tri-state area and the broader Upper Midwest through
recurring exhibitions like Local Perspectives and The luried Exhibition.
As the Art Center presented new work to the community through these
exhibitions, Ritch grew comfortable using the experienced eyes of the
Art Center staff and outside jurors as co -curators of his collection.
17-17
Ritch's relationship with the Art Center took a new turn in 2000 when
he joined the Board of Directors of the Art Center Association of Sioux
City. He remained on the Board for three years, spending his final year
as Board President. Even with the increase in his activities at the Art
Center, he was as active as ever in visiting exhibitions and adding to
his collection. Among the artworks Ritch purchased during this time
were those by Katherine Paape Gibbs, Larry Lightbody, Terri Parish
McGaffin, Sharon Murphy, Swanee, Ryan Thayer, Judith Visker, and
Steve Wilson.
The collection continued to grow, but at a slower pace, over the next
several years after Ritch left the Association board. Still, some of the
largest works in the collection were acquired during the years 2003-
2006. Boulders, a massive outdoor sculpture by Larry Lightbody, was
commissioned in 2005 and placed on the steep bank of the LeGrands'
front lawn. Writings on the Wall, a massive, atmospheric painting by
Larry Roots, was among the final works added to the collection, following
its inclusion in the Art Center's exhibition, Family Tree: Art.Now.Here in
November 2006.
As installed in the LeGrand's tasteful, contemporary home, these
artworks, along with many others that the LeGrands collected during
their travels, say a lot about their owners. Love of beauty, an embrace
of diversity, and support for the community and its surrounding region.
Installed for this exhibition at the Sioux City Art Center, the LeGrand
collection is a sophisticated sampler of the work of artists in our area,
as well as a review of many of the great exhibitions of the Art Center's
recent past. It is a reflection of our region's cultural production.
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While the Art Center celebrates the LeGrands for their support of art and
artists for so many years, what makes this collection so very special is
that the LeGrands have promised to donate these artworks to the Art
Center in the future, Donations of this scale and quality are uncommon.
The collection will be among the largest and most important additions
to the Sioux City Art Center's permanent collection in its history. The
ultimate beneficiary of the LeGrands' generosity will be the people of
Sioux City, for whom the Art Center maintains its art collection.
17-19
John Fraser
Form with Cray Content, 1995
paper and string
36.75" x 27"
20
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Jeff Freeman
Dissertation on 6 F Words, 1989
mixed media
61"x41"x8.5"
21
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Mac Hornecker
Untitled, undated
steel
31"x20"x19"
29
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Jan Hyden
Untitled, circa 1985
mixed media on paper
43.5" x 30.5"
31
17-23
F
Larry Lightbody
Untitled, 1991
painted metal with pedestal
63.5" x 42.5" x 30"
37
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Armin Muhsam
Unterfuhrung, 2004
acrylic on board
12" x 18"
41
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Kenneth Munger
1-29 North, 1999
oil on canvas
55" x 65.5"
43
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Frank Polizzi
Iron John, circa 1992
steel with paint on stone
47.75" x 22" x 9"; base, 4" x 14.5" x 13.5"
46
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Swanee (Tom Swanson)
Hrrumph!, 2000
woodcut
73" x 39"
48
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Daniel Weiss
Nebraska 2 (Poet Painting), 2005
wood, paint, nails
25.25" x 25.25" x 1.5"
54
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7
William Wold
Untitled Pair, 1991
ceramic
32" x 11" x 8": 34.25" x 9.75" x 8.5"
56
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