St. Pete Council Gives Nod To Echelman Sculpture At Pier Approach

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Following intense and often heated public debate, the St. Petersburg City Council voted Thursday, Aug. 2, to sign an agreement with fiber artist Janet Echelman to install one of her world-famous aerial net sculptures within the 26-acre St. Pete Pier district.

The council voted 7-1 to approve a contract with Echelman to install one of her outdoor sculptures in a central spot on the Pier approach where a family park and gardens is planned. Council member Ed Montanari voted against the agreement, saying he is opposed to public funds being used for the sculpture. The $2.8 million sculpture will be funded using $1.5 million in public funds and $1.3 million in private money.

Thursday's voted proved much more convivial than the council's July 12 vote. That's when the council voted 3-2 against installing an Echelman structure at Spa Beach due to an outpouring of public opposition.

Mayor Rick Kriseman said he thinks the new location is an ideal compromise because it will be centrally located without inhibiting the natural views.

A Tampa Bay native who now lives in Boston, Echelman said this will be her first permanent sculpture in her hometown.

Echelman’s massive flowing net sculptures have been installed around the world including Madrid, London, Mexico City and Washington, D.C.

The sculptures are formed from strong, highly engineered fibers in vibrant colors which are braided, knotted, and spliced together to form a lightweight net that moves and billows in the wind. The sculptures are further accented with colored lights.

Each sculpture is specifically designed for the city and environmental in which it is installed.

Echelman plans to start building the sculpture in November and complete it by July 2019, just before the $76 million Pier District project is completed in the fall of 2019.

The council took other action Thursday related to the Pier project including:

· Agreed to a Nov. 6 referendum to extend the 10-year lease for the "Pier Building" to the entire overwater structure, including Tampa Bay Watch, operator of the Education Center.

· Signed an agreement with Skanska USA for additional pre-construction services related to the Pier head building, the Pier Approach and the Janet Echelman Net Sculpture.

· Approved additional design and construction administrative services with W Architecture for the Pier Approach project, including infrastructure for the Janet Echelman Net Sculpture and redesign of a portion of the Pier Approach project.

· Approved additional design and construction administrative services with ASD and Rogers Architecture.

Rendering via Janet Echelman

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