Sacramento City Council Expected To Vote On $8 Million Sculpture Contract

The Sacramento City Council is expected to vote on the $8 million contract for a controversial sculpture by New York-based artist Jeff Koons. 

The  controversy continues in Sacramento tomorrow, when the City Council is scheduled to vote on an $8 million contract to buy a colorful metallic sculpture inspired by the Winnie the Pooh character, Piglet.

The work is titled "Coloring Book" and is part of the artist's Celebration series. The piece would be placed in front of Sacramento's new arena.

A nine-member panel picked the sculpture created by New York-based artist Jeff Koons.

But not everyone is a fan, including some area artists such as Stephanie Taylor.

"I was quite appalled that the piece had already been picked, and nothing had been opened to local consideration," said Taylor.

Lial Jones with the Crocker Art Museum was on the panel that recommended the sculpture to the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission.

On "Insight with Beth Ruyak" Monday, Jones said the piece would elevate Sacramento's art profile globally.

And that time is running out to invite regional artists to compete for the job.  

"When we thought about the invitational process we also thought about the timeline of the arena," said Jones. "To open the arena on the timeline that the NBA has imposed was a daunting task." 

Of the eight-million dollar cost, two-and-a-half million would come from the city.

The rest would come from the Sacramento Kings and three of the team's owners.