Solar Web Documents Reveal Contradictions

Mirror Staff

   Santa Monica resident Peter Davison, a composer who has frequently voiced his objections to the City’s placement of art on the beach and, more specifically, to Solar Web, has forwarded two documents he believes to be pertinent to the continuing debate to the Mirror. 
   The first is from a City Staff Recommendation to the mayor and City Council, dated December 10, 1985. One paragraph of the recommendation reports that “The subcommittee (made up of members of the Rec and Parks Commission) recommends that this proposal (Nancy Holt’s “Solar Web”) not be funded and not be installed on the beach. The subcommittee bases this recommendation on public comments that were made at the two public meetings and on its opinion that the artwork would have an overly obtrusive presence on the beach due to the artwork’s large scale, height and black color.”
   The second document is a California Coastal Commission “Notice of Intent to Issue Permit” (application number 5-93-261, dated April 20, 1994). In it, “Solar Web” is twice described as “a jungle gym.”
   The first reference is as follows: “The area covered by the sculpture will still be available for beach use for those that want to sit or lay on the sand or for those that choose to play on the structure and use it as a jungle gym.” 
   The second reference is as follows: “Solar Web is designed for the public to interact with. The public will be allowed to touch and climb on it, much like a jungle gym.” 
   The Coastal Commission view seems to conflict with the City’s Risk Management Department’s assessment that the sculpture will not be climbed on and therefore poses no risk. 
   Davison added a comment of his own: “I find it amazing that in the ‘Natural Elements Sculpture Park ,’ the main ‘natural elements’ are aluminum poles and cement.