Reprint Courtesy of the Arlington Star-Telegram

City must make Moor decision

Arlington, Texas — February 1, 2003

NATHANIEL JONES
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

City officials have a month to decide whether they will accept an Ohio nonprofit group's offer to relocate the controversial Caelum Moor stones from a south Arlington water treatment plant. The New Bremen Foundation in New Bremen, Ohio, told city officials Friday that time is running out on an offer to send the 540-ton multistone sculpture to Ohio in exchange for a $100,000 donation to the city's public art fund.

The foundation wants Arlington officials to discuss the issue during the next City Council meeting, said Brad Smith, an accountant for the group. The stones once were the focal point of a planned business park north of Interstate 20 and east of Cooper Street. When the project went bust, the new landowners donated the stones to the city. They have been in storage since 1997. Artist Norman Hines of Claremont, Calif., creator of the stones, wants them to be placed on a 5-acre site and surrounded by a body of water. The foundation offered in May to pay the cost of hauling the 22 pieces of pink granite to Ohio.

Some members of Arlington's arts advisory board had hoped the city would pick up the $300,000 cost needed to install the artwork at River Legacy Parks in north Arlington. But there has been no concerted effort to raise the funds, said Lynda Freeman, city projects coordinator. Smith said New Bremen officials have identified several possible sites for the stones and would probably seek Hines' opinion on which location would be best for the stones.

Nathaniel Jones, (817) 548-5414 njones@star-telegram.com
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Copyright 2003 Star-Telegram, Inc.

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