Neighborhood says sculpture doesn't fly

By MICHAEL SANDLER

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 6, 2000

TAMPA -- It's amorphous and large with no title. It stands nearly 13 feet tall, 12 feet wide, 9 feet deep. Some even say the sculpture appears to be flying.

But New Tampa residents will not be interpreting the birdlike piece of abstract art anywhere along Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.

The city's Museum of Art casually considered displaying Doris Leeper's untitled work from the 1970s along the main thoroughfare in New Tampa, but decided the piece did not fit the suburban environment.

Robin Nigh of the city's Art in Public Places program, said the work will remain in storage.

"It is going to go somewhere," Nigh said. "What we want to do in New Tampa, or in any part of Tampa, is have the artwork have a meaning and a context to its environment."

City Councilman Shawn Harrison, also a resident of Tampa Palms, said the idea for a piece of public art in New Tampa was encouraged by many, including Mayor Dick Greco. But no concrete plans were made for the exact piece or where it would go. He said the Leeper piece was considered, but did not fit the surroundings.

"It seemed to be out of place," he said. "None of this was anything more than conceptual thought process of what we might try to do."

Art in Public Places is the result of a 1985 ordinance. It encourages developers of new communities to commission art to enhance the area's aesthetics.

Leeper, who was inducted into Florida's Hall of Fame for artists last year, sculpted the piece using fiberglass and steel.

"It's a lovely object in and of itself," Nigh said. "It looks kind of like an abstracted bird flying, kind of like origami, whimsical or lyrical in some ways."

- Michael Sandler can be reached at 226-3472 or sandler@sptimes.com.

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