Controversial 'Sorcerer's Gate' sculpture on way out in Clearwater

CLEARWATER

The controversial purple sculpture called Sorcerer's Gate in the median of downtown's Cleveland Street is on its way out of town. It and two other sculptures at that location, which were on loan to Clearwater for one year, will be replaced by a new group of three sculptures. And none of the new additions look particularly controversial.

They are:

• Linear V, an 8-foot-tall cast-aluminum work by artist Jarrett K. Hawkins.

• Going Green, a 10-foot-tall stainless-steel take on Atlas by artist by Jack Howard-Potter.

• Brushstrokes, a sculpture by artist Rob Lorenson that will be powder-coated to a bright red color.

A city panel chose the three works, which will be displayed along Cleveland Street for a year. Bringing the artworks in will cost $3,000 from the city's public art fund. The project was started last year by the Downtown Development Board and the Clearwater Downtown Partnership.

Last year, the arrival of Sorcerer's Gate prompted an outpouring of complaints from the public. The name the artist gave to the fanciful purple arch with a tail or ringlet dangling from the top was objectionable to some people on religious grounds. They called it "wicked" or "a message from hell."

That prompted the Clearwater City Council to change a city law to make sure it has final approval over public art.

Council members got a look at the three new sculptures at their work session Monday. They indicated that they'll approve the artworks at Thursday's council meeting.

The sculptures are to be installed during the last week of August.

Mike Brassfield can be reached at brassfield@sptimes.com or (727) 445-4160.