ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- As the plans for the Pier begin to take shape, another controversy emerges over a piece of artwork.
- Large piece of artwork could be suspended over Spa Beach
- Residents concerned over size, price of piece
Plans to install a massive piece of living artwork over Spa Beach were tabled by the St. Petersburg city council last Thursday after concerns were raised by residents on how it would impact the underdeveloped park.
"It's like putting rhinestone necklaces on a Dior dress, It doesn't need to be beautified. It's too gaudy, my opinion. It's too big, my opinion. It's fine if the city wants it, but it's incredibly expensive," resident Velva Lee Heraty said.
Council members called for a vote against the contract with the artist and asked for a revision of those plans. They hope to create a smaller, cheaper sculpture that would take up less space in Spa Beach or another part of the Pier District.
Mayor Rick Kriseman said that making everyone happy about the artwork is near impossible. However, this artwork is part of the city's waterfront master plan.
"And included in that waterfront master plan, which by the way is now a part of our charter, it called for public art on our waterfront parks," he said. "And it actually called for anchor pieces, significant pieces of art. And so we're actually, by doing this, we’re fulfilling what the vision of our waterfront was."