Big art sculpture in downtown Albuquerque already has big problems
Sculpture's weight is a big concern as it sits on top of city parking garage
Sculpture's weight is a big concern as it sits on top of city parking garage
Sculpture's weight is a big concern as it sits on top of city parking garage
The city paid more than $50,000, for a new piece of art in downtown Albuquerque.
It's a massive sculpture that may be a little too massive.
The sculpture, called One Albuquerque, has a weight issue.
It was supposed to weigh about 8,000 pounds.
"When the sculpture was completed, it was a very large sculpture and weighed just over 17,000 pounds," said City of Albuquerque spokesman Johnny Chandler.
That is a big problem because the sculpture sits on top of Civic Plaza which is on top of a parking garage.
With concerns the sculpture was too heavy, the city put it in the road between the plaza and the Albuquerque Convention Center.
Then, advocates for people with disabilities said that was too dangerous, especially for the blind who could walk right into it.
Now the city has moved it to the corner of the plaza.
Chandler maintains the plaza can support the weight, and that the city plans move the sculpture from event to event, like the Balloon Fiesta and the state fair.
"I do not believe it would be dangerous. When we move it there is a plan. There is traffic control. If we have to use a police escort we will," Chandler said.
He said it costs $5,000 each time the city moves the sculpture and the city has already moved it twice. That money is coming from taxpayers.
The sculpture cost $53,000. Chandler said the city paid for it with money from the lodgers tax and $14,000 from the National Senior Games Committee.
The sculpture was not a project from the art commission,according to Chandler. He said it is Mayor Tim Keller's project.