Time running out for Time Myth advocates

By MELISSA DOMSIC
mdomsic@record-eagle.com

May 18, 2008 04:00 am

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Traverse City -- The clock is ticking for those who want to bring the "Time Myth" sculpture to town.

The large steel structure's home at the former Kmart headquarters in Troy is scheduled to be demolished in early June, leaving a couple weeks to secure money needed to transport the piece to Traverse City.

"I think people are committed to trying to make this happen," Gene Jenneman, director of Dennos Museum Center at Northwestern Michigan College.

Jenneman is working with the Downtown Traverse City Association's public art committee to receive the sculpture as a donation and place it somewhere near the bayfront downtown.

He contacted a moving company and estimates it'll cost about $15,000 to get the piece up to Traverse City. Roughly $45,000 to $50,000 will be needed to build a foundation and install the large structure.

"We always knew the numbers to achieve this in its final form were not going to be inexpensive," Jenneman said, adding he hopes to receive some in-kind work.

Committee members plan to raise funds and said no local tax dollars will be used.

The sculpture, created by Southfield-based artist John Piet, was originally commissioned for $800,000. The piece didn't sell under a minimum bid of $75,000 when Kmart liquidated its corporate art collection.

The committee wanted to place the sculpture on the Open Space, a spot the bayfront plan designated as a possible public art site.

But many area residents spoke out against that spot. The city commission in February advised against placing it at the waterfront park's focal point.

Site options have been narrowed to three: Sunset Park on East Front Street; near East Grandview Parkway's Murchie Bridge west of the Holiday Inn; and just east of the volleyball courts in front of the bay.

"Initially, I thought there was only one place for it, but we are opening up to other options that are exciting," committee member Marcia Bellinger said. "I want it to be only the beginning of public art downtown."

The city commission should be updated on the project soon, said Bryan Crough, executive director of the Downtown Development Authority.

He also expects to speak with the bayfront planning group, since possible projects such as a trail expansion along the shore off East Front Street might work in conjunction with the sculpture project.