An appraiser will evaluate city-owned artwork to determine its value for insurance purposes.
Columbus Board of Works members agreed Tuesday to hire Appraisal Associates International in West Lafayette for an amount not to exceed $5,000.
The firm will evaluate artwork from a list compiled by the city and Richard McCoy, Landmark Columbus director, said Jamie Brinegar, city finance director.
The appraisal will cover 2-D pieces of art such as photos, paintings and murals, along with 3-D pieces including statutes and sculptures.
Sharon Theobald, president and senior appraiser of Appraisal Associates International, appraised the collection of J. Irwin and Xenia Miller, Brinegar said. She has also worked with clients such as Christie’s International and Sotheby’s, he said.
The appraisal will allow the city to obtain an accurate inventory of what it owns and to receive recommendations on how to care for each piece properly, Brinegar said. Some pieces of artwork owned by the city are insured, while others are not, he said.
Among the pieces owned by the city are a mural in the Columbus City Council chambers, the “Chaos 1” kinetic sculpture in the lobby of The Commons and various sculptures in city parks.
The cost of the appraisals will come out of the city’s general fund. The city anticipates a final report from the firm in about a month, Brinegar said.
