By Clayton Chaney and Josh Pike
Staff Writers
At the Aug. 6 BoCC work session, the board heard a proposal from Pagosa Springs Recreation Supervisor Amanda Gadomski and Public Art Committee chair Sherry Phillips for additional art pieces to complement the recently installed Weeminuche Meadows sculpture.
Gadomski explained to the BoCC that the Weeminuche Meadows sculpture, which depicts a Hispanic sheepherder, is made of bronze and was recently installed.
She commented that the Public Art Committee is trying to raise funds to commission two sheep statues to complement the shepherd, which would cost approximately $30,000.
Due to staffing changes, Gadomski stated that the group was “behind” on budgeting for the project and was trying to “scramble” to gather funds for the acquiring the additional sheep before the price for the pieces increases.
She explained that the Town of Pagosa Springs supports public art and that the project also received funds from the Pagosa Springs Arts Council, although the Pagosa Springs Area Tourism Board did not choose to provide funding for the project when a request was made.
Gadomski stated that the committee could present a request to the tourism board again, but that she wants to potentially include the county in funding the project due to it reflecting the “rich heritage” of the community.
She stated that the group aspires to expand the statue into an “art installation” and to use some funding to install an interpretive sign explaining the cultural significance of the sculpture.
Due to the project being located on a multiuse trail, she proposed that Conservation Trust Fund monies could be used for the project.
Spears commented that research shows that “communities that embrace public art” see increased profits for businesses due to the art attracting people and starting conversations.
“It’s just good business to invest in public art,” she said. “It doesn’t seem like … when you think about hungry children and all the other vast needs that we have in this county — and across the country, really — art doesn’t seem like it’s that important, but it really is the foundation for building business. … Mental health as well is proven to increase with the addition of public art.”
She added that the town created the Public Art Committee five years ago and has been able to significantly expand the amount of public art in the community.
Having the sculptures in bronze was a “real coup” Phillips commented, noting that having a bronze sculpture would be more expected in a large city than in Pagosa Springs.
Commissioner Veronica Medina asked how much the group was asking the county to contribute toward the sculpture.
Gadomski stated that the county was being asked to contribute approximately $10,000, with other donors also contributing to funding the project.
Commissioner Ronnie Maez asked what the Town of Pagosa Springs is contributing to the project.
Gadomski explained that the town has a $20,000 annual budget for public art and is spending $15,000 for new art in 2024, with the other $5,000 being spent on maintenance.
She added that the town spent $20,000 in 2023 on the Weeminuche Meadows sculpture, which also received $20,000 in funding from the tourism board and $10,000 in funding from the Pagosa Springs Arts Council.
Maez commented that he raised the issue of using county Conservation Trust Fund revenues to support funding sheep sculptures at a previous BoCC work session and that he was in favor of the proposal, although he felt that there potentially needed to be more than two sheep.
He added that he feels that the sculptures create an added attraction for the trail and that he would be willing to contribute more than $10,000 for the project.
Gadomski commented that the sheep are the currently planned addition to the art installation, but that it will likely expand over time to include additional art pieces and cultural elements.
Phillips added that the arts committee has considered potentially adding an interpretive audio element to explain the history and context for the piece.
Medina commented that she supports the project, adding that her family were “longtime sheep herders” in the area and that the Weeminuche Meadows shepherd “needs some sheep.”
Commissioner Warren Brown also expressed support for funding the project, stating that the project would be a benefit to the community.
Maez added that the county has a significant amount of money remaining in the Conservation Trust Fund that could be used to fund the project.
At a regular meeting held on Aug. 20, the BoCC voted unanimously to contribute $10,330 from the Conservation Trust Fund to have two sheep added to the Weeminuche Meadow sculpture.
During the meeting, Maez expressed support of the project and suggested the county could donate a little bit more and actually have three sheep installed.
Maez asked what the cost per sheep would be, and how much a third sheep would cost.
Pagosa Springs Parks and Recreation Director Darren Lewis explained that a third sheep would change the request from $10,330 to $17,500.
“I mean, two sheep ain’t much,” Maez said.
He commented that he would be in support of adding three sheep.
Medina agreed that three sheep would be better than two, but noted that the funds received in the Conservation Trust Fund are not guaranteed every year and can fluctuate, explaining that $7,000 could be used to enhance other parks in the community.
Brown motioned to approve the funding request of $10,330, which was seconded by Maez.
Bike park funding approved
Also at the Aug. 20 meeting, the BoCC unanimously approved a funding request from DUST2 in the amount of $25,000 to go toward constructing a bike skills park at Yamaguchi Park South.
DUST2 representative Driz Cook previously gave a presentation to the Combined Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and the BoCC at a work session, explaining the need for the park.
Cook previously indicated that DUST2 was seeking $50,000 from the Conservation Trust Fund for the project, with half coming from the town and half coming from the county.
The project will likely begin next spring, according to Lewis.
clayton@pagosasun.com
