The Newport City Council is set to receive a communication from City Manager Colin K. Kennedy at their upcoming meeting on Wednesday, October 23, regarding a proposed gift to the city. The action item, numbered 6331/24, concerns the acceptance of a large elephant statue named Leela from the organization Art & Newport.
Kennedy’s recommendation to the council is to accept the gift, which would memorialize the 2024 Great Elephant Migration event that was held in Newport earlier this year. The statue, offered by Dodie Kazanjian and Edith McBean of Art & Newport, comes with a pledge for biannual varnishing at no cost to the city in perpetuity.
“It is recommended that Council accept the gift to the City from Art & Newport of Leela the Elephant from the Great Elephant Migration to be displayed at a location to be determined,” Kennedy states in his communication to the council.
The offer is contingent upon a binding agreement between the City of Newport and Art & Newport. A deadline of Oct. 31 has been set for the city to accept the offer.
If accepted, the elephant statue would be stored for the winter of 2024-25 while discussions take place to determine its permanent location. Kennedy suggests that Art & Newport, along with various city boards and commissions, would collaborate on recommending a suitable display site.
“If so resolved, the City would receive the gift and store it for the winter of 2024-25 while Art&Newport along with our various cognizant boards and commissions meet and coalesce around a recommendation for a permanent display site,” Kennedy explains.
The statue, Leela, is a substantial piece of art. Its dimensions are approximately 14 feet in length, 7.7 feet in height, and 4.4 feet in width.
Kennedy’s proposal includes involving several city entities in the decision-making process for the statue’s placement. These include the Cliff Walk Commission, Tree and Open Space Commission, Beach Commission, and Public Sculpture Commission.
The final decision on the permanent location would ultimately require approval from the City Council.
A draft resolution accompanying the communication outlines the terms of acceptance. It states, “The Newport City Council hereby accepts the offer of the gift of Leela the elephant from Art&Newport and directs the Administration to move forward with the agreement for same.”
Kennedy emphasizes the unique nature of this gift in his communication, noting the ongoing commitment from Art & Newport to maintain the statue. “They have also pledged biannual varnishing of the statue in perpetuity,” he states.
The City Manager’s office confirms that accepting this gift would have no fiscal impact on the city, as noted in the supporting documents of the communication.
As the Oct. 23 council meeting approaches, the proposed acceptance of Leela the Elephant stands as a potential new addition to Newport’s public art landscape, pending the council’s decision.
Communication From City Manager
See the Communication from the City Manager here.
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