Sarasota is one step closer to buying a sculpture by artist John Henry.
It's called "Complexus" and stands seven stories high. Early this week, the Sarasota City Commission approved The Sarasota Art Fund (SPAF) request to purchase the work and give it to the city.
"Art in public view plays a vital role in a city's appeal, quality of life and economic viability. That's why so many of us are extremely motivated to keep 'Complexus' in Sarasota," said SPAF president Thomas J. Savage.
The original asking price for the sculpture was $850,000. But Henry agreed to sell it to for $500,000. And Savage says the SPAF is more than half way to its goal of raising $600,000 to cover the cost of insurance and upkeep for the sculpture.
John Henry's artistic career spans more than four decades. He is famed for his large-scale artworks, which are often described as resembling Pick Up Sticks.
Complexus was considered a highlight of this year's Sarasota Season of Sculpture's outdoor sculpture exhibition. It stands at the corner of U.S. 41 and Gulf Stream Avenue, beside the One Sarasota Tower, which is where Savage says it is likely to stay.
