« Ind. Courts - "Few women in Indiana are appointed to high judiciary posts" | Main | Ind. Law - More on wine shipping »

Saturday, October 06, 2007

Ind. Courts - "Putting price on Allen County Courthouse art"

Amanda Iacone reports today in the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette:

Much like the building around it, the fine artwork housed inside the Allen County Courthouse has increased in value even though it could never really be replaced in the event of a natural disaster or fire.

The county commissioners Friday agreed to provide a separate insurance policy for the fine art, valued at $34.8 million. The county previously included the artwork as part of the blanket policy that covers the building structure and contents, said Cathy Serrano, risk manager and human resources attorney for the county.

This spring, county officials brought in a specialist to appraise the artwork, which includes bronze, cast bas-reliefs that form a decorative part of the courtroom walls, murals painted on ceiling areas, and some portrait paintings.

To arrive at the $34.8 million appraisal, the specialist compared the works to museum-quality art of a similar period and style that have been sold or auctioned recently. The price would be adjusted based on condition and how famous the artist was, Serrano said.

Artist Carl Gutherz painted three murals in courtroom No. 2. He was based in Washington, D.C., and an example of his work can be found in the reading room of the Library of Congress. He was also more widely known than his student Charles Holloway, who painted the four murals on the main rotunda.

Holloway won a gold medal at the 1900 Paris Expo.

“That’s why it takes a very specialized appraiser to do,” she said.

The county tried local appraisers, specialists from Chicago and at the Smithsonian Institution, who declined to take the job. However, the county was recommended to Sharon Smith Theobald with Appraisal Associates International, who specializes in museum-quality art and architectural art found in buildings like museums worldwide, Serrano said.

Theobald documented the Courthouse art while in Fort Wayne doing similar work at the Lincoln Museum. The work cost the county less than $2,000, she said.

The fine art was appraised for the first time while the interior of the 105-year-old Courthouse was being renovated during the late 1990s. The value of about $9 million was low because the artwork was in the midst of being restored and cleaned, Serrano said.

Officials knew at the time that the artwork would need to be appraised again. The Courthouse structural elements were also appraised during the renovation for a value of $38 million, but the value of the Courthouse almost tripled after a recent reappraisal to $107 million.

Despite the large value associated with the artwork, the artwork is priceless and could never truly be replaced if it were ever damaged or destroyed, Commissioner Linda Bloom said.

Copies and photographs of all the artwork could be used to duplicate any damaged item.

“It wouldn’t be the same,” Bloom said.

The commissioners agreed to pay a premium of $19,981 annually to Travelers Insurance, which specializes in such coverage.

Securing the precious works of art is another concern, but one county officials believe is under control.

Armed guards who work for the Allen County Sheriff’s Department provide security at the Courthouse during the day. And security guards walk through the building periodically after hours to keep an eye on everything from computers to broken windows to stolen artwork, said Tony Burrus, county safety and environmental director.

The building also has an alarm system, and certain areas require a pass key to enter after hours, Burrus said.

But the location of the artwork also protects it from damage or theft, Serrano said.

Many of the bas-reliefs are so high up along the courtroom walls that someone would need a ladder to reach them. Any ladders in the building are locked in maintenance areas, she said.

The works of art cast in bronze would also be very heavy and are permanently affixed to the wall. Although they could be removed, it would not be easy, Serrano said.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on October 6, 2007 06:30 PM
Posted to Indiana Courts