Shaker Council Approves Outdoor Artwork for Ludlow Neighborhood

A piece of art with color-changing parts is coming soon to the Ludlow neighborhood.

City Council on Monday approved a $27,979 contract to LAND Studio for a public display. The funds are not considered 2012 dollars because council approved a community project grant to the Ludlow Community Association for the project in 2008.

Since 2008, the group only allocated $2,640 of the grant for flower baskets. Despite the elapsed time, the group is still guaranteed the remainder of the grant funds, finance director Bob Baker said. The association and only recently decided on Cleveland-based LAND to manage the project.

Last year, the group selected Mark Reigelman as the project artist. His "Colorfield" piece — full of large, hanging, color-changing triangular aluminum pylons — will be installed on a median near Onaway Road and Van Aken Boulevard.

"As you walk around it, it'll change colors to orange, blue, purple and so on," Planning Director Joyce Braverman said. "It's kind of a play off of the integration of the neighborhood with different colors and cultures."

LAND plans on raising more money to complete a companion piece at Hampton and South Woodland roads in Cleveland.

After Braverman described the project to council, Councilman Rob Zimmerman asked for more clarification on the funds and why they are being allocated after four years.

"When an appropriation, such as this one in '08, is made, we consider that money committed," Baker said. "It has not been encumbered until you pass (an ordinance).

"When you make a capital appropriation, an appropriation lasts until the project is done or canceled."

Mayor Earl Leiken added that it is not uncommon for a grant recipient to take a long time to decide on a project. He pointed out that people associations like Ludlow have full-time jobs and other priorities.

Braverman said the piece would not affect visibility in the area. The police and public works departments have both reviewed the installation. It will be placed about 17 feet from the intersection on gravel.

The association and LAND will handle maintenance.

The city has awarded community project grants from the capital budget for years, with money contributed to Lomond/Gridley Park, the Westbury beautification project, the Larchmere street-scape and Moreland neighborhood project.

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