Statue ready to bronze

Orland's bronze sculpture of a horse and cowboy is at the foundry to be cast in metal.

Sculptor Carl Ciliax of Napa created a larger version of his "Sagebrush and Silence" piece for the city after being commissioned last year by the Arts Commission.

It is slated to be unveiled at the corner of Fourth and Walker streets on May 11, Arts Commissioner Rae Turnbull said.

"We have reached our goal of raising $34,000 for the bronze," Turnbull said.

However, she said more money is needed for installation costs. The concrete foundation and granite pedestal is estimated at about $3,400.

Contractor Chris Lapp is donating his labor to the project.

Lapp built the gazebo in Library Park and the city welcome sign in Centennial Park on Highway 32.

Turnbull said 71 donors have contributed. Gold donors paid $2,000, while Silver donors provided $500 each. Group donors paid $100 per individual.

The Friends of the Orland Arts group was joined by Capay Supporters of the Arts in the fundraising effort, she said.

Donors included both private citizens and businesses with eight contributors from Willows, Corning and Chico, Turnbull said.

"They were excited about the project and hope their cities take the cue from Orland," she said.

"That is pretty incredible," she said. "We are so pleased with the response of the communities."

The names of all the donors will be put on either a bronze plaque mounted on the pedestal or another plaque inside the Orland Art Gallery, where the individual names of group donors will be put on permanent display.

The bronze sculpture will be about 5.5 feet tall and will sit on a 5-foot high pedestal. It will be visible from Walker Street or Highway 32 with the goal of drawing tourists downtown, Turnbull said.

Its concrete base will be painted in a finish similar to the Orland Arch and the horse and cowboy bolted to a 3-inch granite slab top, she said.

Turnbull maintains Ciliax has done the work for a "remarkable price" because he is impressed a city this size was willing to support such a piece.

Bronzes of this size and quality typically run $50,000 or more.

The horse and rider were chosen as a "tribute to the city's past when horses were vital to every city industry," Turnbull said.

While Orland Councilmen Bruce Roundy, Salina Edwards and Dennis Hoffman support the project, Mayor Charles Gee and Councilman Jim Paschall have expressed concern about the cost.

They were concerned about the city paying for the pedestal when the whole project was approved as a donation-only endeavor.

Contract language indicated the city was responsible for its installation costs since the bronze will become a city-owned monument.

However, the money would come from the city's public arts fund, Roundy said.

"I think they've done what they said they would do," Roundy said, after reviewing the minutes of past council meetings and the contract language with Ciliax.

But Paschall said he was unhappy there was no cost estimate for the pedestal listed at the meeting and said it should be put out to bid, and Gee complained there are not enough "checks and balances" on the commission's spending.

Edwards noted the contractor was donating his labor and only wanting materials costs, and Hoffman said money from the sale of artwork and sale commissions in the gallery shows helped pay for these projects.

Roundy said all of the money goes through city Treasurer Pam Otterson and the commission has been transparent in all of its activities, with all contracts coming to the City Council for approval.