Ugly, eh? No, not her. The sculpture. As a matter of fact, it was so ugly it was removed from public view. Probably the only publically funded artwork in Alaska to be so infamous. Originally called “Juneau Green,” it was the creation of Canadian artist Robert Murray and was erected within eyeshot of the Capitol in 1977.

But it wasn’t there long.

As soon as it went up, a whirlwind of complaints swirled around the 16-foot-high, 5-ton ‘statue’ which was deemed the ‘largest pigeon poop collector’ in Alaska. The criticism intensified over the next four years until finally, in 1984, the Legislature demanded it be removed.

It was.

Replaced by a statue of William Seward.

But there was a problem.

The artwork had been funded with public money and was therefore an asset of the State of Alaska.  The State of Alaska could not ‘dump the monstrosity’ because it was an asset but there did not appear to be any public agency eager to have the ‘pigeon poop magnet’ on its front doorstop. Complicating the matter, the State of Alaska had a contract with Murray to display the artwork. So it sat unclaimed for years.

Finally – or, tragically, depending on your view of Nimbus – in 1990, the artwork was re-located near the front steps of the Alaska State Museum in Juneau where it is today, attracting pigeon poop, odd looks from tourists and cries of anguish from Alaskans who look at the artwork and say “It’s Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaak.” https://www.authormasterminds.com/steve-levi