None of the six pieces of artwork in Redmond’s “Art Around the Clock” public gallery have sold, and it has been a struggle to raise funds for future installations. But that hasn’t deterred proponents from seeking a new round of sculptures and planning for the future.

The city started the program two years ago, shortly after completing Centennial Park and three refurbished blocks of Sixth Street downtown. The program was modeled on a successful public art program in Lake Oswego; artists loan three-dimensional art for a two-year period, receiving a small stipend. In return, the city gets an open-air gallery on its streets, in parks and next to public buildings.

A key component to Redmond’s program is an agreement that at the end of every two-year cycle, one of the art pieces will be purchased and become part of a permanent public art collection.

“A lot of the public art galleries don’t have the public purchase option,” said local sculptor Ryan Beard. “But obviously it’s a big draw for the artists.” Beard has two pieces in Redmond’s current gallery, “Roots” in Centennial Park and “Inner Workings” on the corner of Sixth and Forest.

For a while after the city put out a request for proposals this winter, seeking new art for round two of the gallery, it looked as if the program might stall. No proposals were received for several months.

“I’m not sure why it was so slow receiving proposals,” said Heather Richards, community development director. “I don’t think artists work in the same linear format that we do in government. But we have three formal proposals now and are hearing from other artists who are interested but missed the first application period.”

Redmond has seven art pieces in its permanent collection now: “Air Traffic Control” and “Western Swing” at two city entrances; “Eagles in Flight” at the airport; “Dignity” across from Centennial Park; the Centennial Park Clocktower; “Thoughts of Flight” at the Glacier-Highland couplet; and “Grace” on Sixth Street.

“Grace,” a bronze heron, was originally part of the Art Around the Clock collection. After it was stolen and insurance paid for its replacement, it became property of the city. The rest were either donated or paid for with public money, or a combination of both.

When Lake Oswego started its program more than 20 years ago, it implemented a 1.5 percent fee from public building projects, dedicating it to the public art program.

“Any community that’s able to initiate that kind of policy gains a lot of momentum,” said Nancy Nye, executive director for the Arts Council of Lake Oswego. “When it began, we had a lot of public building going on and an urban renewal district; our program really took flight.”

Lake Oswego now has more than 30 sculptures — 200 pieces of art overall — in public ownership; 15 new pieces are brought into the rotating gallery every two years, and one is purchased after a popular vote.

“We have some real visionaries in this community,” said Nye. “The program started out with only about six pieces and was originally organized by a city commission.”

Transitioning into an independent nonprofit was key to soliciting more funding from grants and donations, she added; the Art Council’s goal is to match city-provided funds.

Fundraising has been tough for the Redmond Commission for Art in Public Places, which was formed before Art Around the Clock was developed. About $3,000 was earned from a “Passport to the Arts” event last summer, but commission president Linda Gilmore Hill said she doesn’t expect that to happen every year.

“I feel like we’ve knocked on the door of pretty much every business, every foundation, and been turned down repeatedly,” said Gilmore Hill. The all-volunteer group is currently pursuing a 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.

The commission does have $9,000 in the bank from a one-time city donation, proceeds from one year of a cellphone tower lease agreement. According to Richards, city staff recommended at the time that the arts program receive the lease funds on an ongoing basis to supplement the public arts program, but the Redmond City Council didn’t approve the policy.

Artists are paid $750 when their pieces are loaned to the gallery, and the city must provide new pedestals and installation costs, so commission funds get whittled away for expenses beyond purchase of new art.

With the two-year loans ending soon, the commission will be organizing a public vote to decide which sculpture will be purchased for Redmond. All five pieces will be on the ballot; artist Jan Van Ek has agreed to sell “Sirocco” — listed for $39,000 — to Redmond for $9,000 if it garners the most votes.

While the bronze horse head sculpture would be “a great deal for Redmond,” according to Gilmore Hill, it would also nearly deplete the commission’s coffers, leaving them at square one.

“It hasn’t been an easy process (obtaining funding),” she said. “Everyone agrees art is valuable in a community but doesn’t seem to want to pay for it.”

According to Beard, he’s not concerned that neither of his pieces have sold in the two years they’ve been on display in Redmond. Public art galleries are all about exposure, he said, and introducing your art to a broader audience.

Gilmore Hill is setting her sights on the commission’s nonprofit standing and the increased chance of grants. She is still holding out hope on a steady funding source from the city one day, once the economy improves.

“It doesn’t have to be a grandiose amount,” she said. “Just enough to make us feel like we’re doing something of value. Meanwhile, we’ll keep plugging away.”

On the Web

For more information about Redmond’s Art Around the Clock, visit http://doc.ci.redmond.or.us/Community_Development/Arts_Commission/AATC_Brochure.pdf