A controversial sculpture that was part of the 2014 Columbus Indiana Sculpture Biennial has been removed from public display after its contract expired and the artist didn’t want it back.
Decathexis, which was designed to mimic a tree’s design, was originally placed on the grounds of City Hall on July 1, 2014, part of a group of sculptures selected for the biennial exhibition, some of which are still in place.
In 2015, former Mayor Kristen Brown asked that the public art piece be moved at city expense to a more natural setting near the city’s parks to allow the city to have uninterrupted placement of about 3,000 flags commemorating those who died on 9/11.
The sculpture was moved to 11th and Jackson streets, where it stayed until this month, when Kathryn Armstrong, Columbus Area Arts Council executive director and the parks department decided to discard the piece, Armstrong said Friday.
The contract to display the sculpture expired in June 2016 and the artist did not want the piece back, Armstrong said.
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