Art and Justice at the Water’s Edge
— from Leo Lambiel —
Art or a building? Therein lies the question. Photo: Fred Klein
Although many residents are familiar with the Lambiel Museum, many may not be aware of the totality of the presentation. The works of over 230 artists are on display, including many rare and valuable pieces: all beautiful and unique creations enjoyed by more than 25,000 visitors over the past 40 years.
The Museum has been a boon to many San Juan County artists and home to thousands of works of art. There are 178 from the internationally-recognized Helen Loggie.
Nineteen years ago, to further enhance the visitor’s experience, the Museum commissioned an Art Installation. A Folly: a beautiful Greek Doric temple “ruin.” We have all seen Art Installations. Some of the more famed are at Western Washington University in Bellingham, where one can experience numerous examples of Art Installations. They are open to the public 24/7. Some are quite large and can be walked on, walked under, walked through and enjoyed thoroughly.
No building permit has ever been required or issued for any of these artistic works.
Art Installations appear in most major cities and many towns. They add to the community and enjoyment of both residents and visitors.
The Lambiel Art Installation of a Greek temple “ruin,” begun 19 years ago is now under attack by S.J.County. Interestingly, the construction of a “ruin” requires a very strong skeleton so that although appearing to be a “ruin” it is in no way ‘falling down,’ but crafted to the highest of standards, and is replete with Engineer’s and Architect’s Certifications. This particular Work of Art required 15 years to complete.
Four years ago the Art Installation was finally completed and soon thereafter a Conditional Use Permit was granted by San Juan County. In this process 34 neighbor residents were notified of a hearing in which to voice questions or concerns. All 34 were supportive of the Museum and this unusual, unique work of Art. It should be noted… there were no complaints.
Now, however, the County, in all its’ wisdom, has instigated a lawsuit in San Juan County Superior Court. The County as decided that this unique piece of artistry represents, amongst other things, a threat to the well being of island visitors and residents, “Causing irreparable harm, damage, and a public nuisance…”
The County further claims the Art “endangers the comfort, repose, health, safety, offends decency, interferes with, obstructs, renders dangerous for navigable passage, (for boats?!) and in other ways renders other persons insecure in life”!
Of course the above could all be dismissed with the payment of fees and fines, and a “Building Permit.” In spite of the fact that there is nothing in any building code that addresses art objects. The Grecian ‘ruin’ is not enclosed, is not habitable, is without fixtures, and it does not have any utilitarian purpose whatsoever:
It is not a building. It is a Work of Art!
The County is currently assessing a fine on the Museum of $1,000.00 per week. This is an outright travesty of justice, not just to the Museum, but toward all residents and artists of the County. What can be done?
The Museum needs your help. If you think you’d like to be of help, please simply jot a quick note expressing support to the Lambiel Museum 668 Olga Road, Eastsound 98245, or send an email to: lambielmuseum@yahoo.com (Nothing more is necessary!)
This County action is an unreasonable attack on the Museum and on the artists of San Juan County, and the hundreds of Artists whose work is on display.
Thanking you in advance for your support.
(Editor’s Noe: A downloadable PDF version of the petition is available HERE for those wishing to sign and submit to Leo Lambiel at the address above, or drop off at The Trading Company.)
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While the many points offered in this article seem applicable, technically correct, as well as meaningful, this situation as a whole appears to be driven by personal passions and not the letter of the law (or County regulations in this case) nor the intent of these regulations. Now the strong personal passion is certainly understandable from Mr. Lambiel, an incredibly talented artist and public benefactor, the Lambiel Museum, and probably most of us who live and visit Orcas Island, I really don’t see why the County is taking the stand it is taking. Looking at this structure, it could possibly be considered an incredibly elaborate and artistic “gazebo” in the yard. Other than that, I agree – its art. I’d ask the powers that be, empowered by their positions in the County, to also consider why it is that so many people want to come visit our lovely island? A huge piece of the answer to that question is that Orcas is beautiful both in nature and in its humanity. Our artists of which there are many, offer themselves through their art. It is an act of lovingkindness, of generosity, and one that builds community in people’s hearts. For the County to take the position that this particular expression of beauty should be removed and its owner sanctioned even harassed in this way all in the name of the public good, is completely bizarre. Is this a wise use of our County resources? I don’t think so. I ask that the County rethink its position and shift it to truly support our community.
Having worked w/ Leo on the design of the temple ruin and grotto…generally regarded as an “architectural folly”…I too am very understanding of his position in this matter.
Leo mentions the outdoor sculpture at WWU in Bellingham…In the absence of any history in SJC on the permitting of outdoor works of art on private property, I did substantial research for Leo to determine how these issues are dealt with in neighboring jurisdictions and learned of this sculpture garden, one of national renown.
At WWU, some of the works are quite large and architectonic, i.e., they include elements which evoke buildings and structures…they invite people to enter into them, climb upon them, etc. They include structural elements weighing many tons. My research included emailed conversations with the curator at WWU, and in one instance, the contractor who constructed the largest of the works of art provided me with copies of documents proving that he sought guidance from the City of Bellingham and was assured that no building permit was necessary. The public has unrestricted access to these works of art 24/7.
Although I presented this information including many photographs to SJC CD&P in a meeting which included Leo’s attorneys, it was ultimately not persuasive enough to change the County’s position in the matter.
Given that public access to Leo’s temple ruin is very tightly restricted and limited to visitors on guided tours, I believe that the County’s concerns about public welfare and safety are overstated.
Much has been written about the uniqueness of island life and its special “character”. Leo is certainly one the characters among us who exemplifies that tradition…his mailbox alone, a fantasy castle complete w/ drawbridge and a golden-haired damsel imprisoned in a tower makes his case.
Surely there must be a way to resolve this in a fashion befitting our unique community without invoking the heavy hand of the Law.
It’s amazing what SJ county has time and money for harassing individuals but can’t do anything about:
The drug problem
Jay walking from between parked cars in front of moving cars
Possible dog fighting
and so many other things that are wrong in SJIs
Leo’s beautiful art works and museum have been enjoyed by many people – tourists and islanders.
LET THE GUY ALONE!
If the County is so intent on being so desperate for money that they resort to highway robbery, then the least they could do is wear a mask and use a gun. SERIOUSLY SJ County? “A public nuisance??” Seriously SJ County?? Get a life.
While I also see the finer points made above and, enjoy ART. I would only make this simple statement or observation. While on private property, the ‘art’ in question in in the shoreline and must conform to the rules that have been in place for quite some time. The saying; “If you give them an inch, they’ll take a mile”….so to speak applies here. What if everyone wants to build something and call it art? Does it negate the rules that other must follow? Many times people like to label something just to get away with rules they don’t like. But hey! When the next person breaks that rule and YOU don’t like it, call the SJC code enforecement! As far as a ‘public nuisance’? this gazebo is much better than the sign that was in the roadway….
This is certainly not helping in the PR department for the County. To the powers that be: please explain this.
Would he who has suffered “irreparable harm, damage, and (experienced) a public nuisance…” please stand up.
This overreaction by the County is indeed a waste of time, money and personal energies.
Jason Hensel wrote, “While on private property, the ‘art’ in question in in the shoreline and must conform to the rules that have been in place for quite some time.”
Jason…After onsite review by both County CD&P staff, as well as by the WA State DOE which monitors structures within our “shorelines of state-wide significance”, the Lambiel temple ruin was ruled to be in compliance w/ shoreline regulations and a Conditional Use Permit was issued.
Jean and I like Leo personally. We also enjoyed the tour he gave us of his museum/home, quite a few years ago.
However, Leo has a short history of constructing architectural works of art without first investigating whether or not a building permit would be required.
The present case is the second of these to be aired in public. (Leo lost the previous case.)
That tells me that Leo may be behaving in a headstrong and somewhat foolish manner, when he unilaterally decides to install a work of art that has architectural features without first clearing the project with the appropriate county department.
While I hope that Leo will win his case, and that the folly he has built will not have to be removed, I understand the county’s position in this matter.
I wish that Leo had gone through all of the proper permitting steps, before building his folly.
But now that it has been built, I wish that the county could find a way to just let the matter drop. Leo’s folly affects nobody, and is no danger to the public.
Why, after all these years has this become an issue? Has Leo stepped on someone’s toes in the County? As a 28 year resident of SJC, I am appalled at this seemingly personal attack on Leo’s beautiful Museum!
“The County further claims the Art “endangers the comfort, repose, health, safety, offends decency, interferes with, obstructs, renders dangerous for navigable passage, (for boats?!) and in other ways renders other persons insecure in life”! Excuse Me??? “Offends Decency”? Maybe if he had Michael Angelo’s “David” the County would require that a leaf be put on the offending part! Who in the county is snorting what?
Leo’s Museum is beneficial to our County’s economy including the artists whose work is on display there. I am one of those artists. Leo purchased a number of my works for display and I am happy to know that people from all over the world enjoy them!
Is SJ County this desperate for money??? $1,000 per week? Come on, County Council, talk some sense into these obdurate County Employees. Please remind them that you All are employed by US, We, The People! Spirit Eagle
This reminds me of one summer when the county red tagged a driftwood fort some kids built at Crescent Beach.
This is a pathetic misuse and misunderstanding of the laws of this county and appears to be a vendetta of sorts. The lawsuit should be dropped and Leo Lambiel aught to get an apology for being harrassed. It is clearly a work of art, serves no other purpose, threatens nothing and no one, was built with the utmost care, and should be seen as a marvelous artistic piece in the museum collection.
I’m with Lesley Liddle on this one. Someone at the county has too much time on his hands and too much money to fritter away on lawyers. Sheesh!
I am outraged and grossed out at the county for this unreasonable decision.
Lambiel Museum represents our island and county culture and one man’s vision of how he has experienced the arts on Orcas. He has shared this vision with his community for many years – not just buying art for his own gratification, but to show off-islanders the amazing artists destination they have arrived at.
What the heck is this county committee thinking?! Sort yourselves out and put your efforts into actually being creative in positive ways – like Leo has!!!
SJC what does it take to stop your actions. I would like to know.
It is the COUNTY that needs to be dismantled – not a beautiful art installation —
I just wish our law enforcement officers had more time to patrol Mt. Baker Road and arrest daily and nightly speeding vehicles and vehicles parked on both sides of the road during events at Orcas Center when there is still parking available in their upper lot instead of spending so much time on Leo’s museum and other issues that aren’t related to safety. The parking in front of my house (directly across from the Orcas Center) is causing a safety issue because when pulling out onto the road during Center events we cannot see oncoming traffic without pulling part way onto the road. Plus cars are parking part way on the new sidewalk on the Center side of the road. I’ve asked if this is legal and haven’t received an answer, but it doesn’t seem a good thing for the sidewalk. I would also like to see the enforcement against people driving and talking on their cell phones which I see daily in Eastsound. Again, another safety issue, especially when they are either driving on or over the center line!
The county has many other issues. Why go after someone who brings art and beauty. Keep your own agendas aside, get a life. I know that might not be possible with your limited thought process, pick up a book. Read. Maybe view some art.
Why after 15 years? We all witnessed the County’s charismatic former Planning/Building Director R. Hendrickson’s actions focused on Mr. Lambiel a few years back, including forcing Mr. Lambiel to remove his beautiful sign. Looks like the principal folly here is the County’s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNYKxiRJ2LA
Focus on problems that are real. Not ones that fit into your agenda or get kick backs from.
Our county prosecuting attorneys office agreed to pursue this? I guess they have to keep their six full time attorneys busy.
When something serves art and artists, beauty, creativity, imagination, inspiration, connection~the community, visitors~enriches the lives of everyone, how is that illegal? Put Steve Verthaler back on the police force, and start “policing” things that need, policing. Leo has created and invested his life, into this amazing Art Museum.
Leave him alone, support his efforts, and refund his expenses. Headsonstraight.com!
Oh please SJC! How about providing us bike lanes? That would save more lives than the one in a billion chance another meteor would hit the art installation while an innocent tourist is enjoying themselves.
Still standing after 147 years in Paris France:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parc_des_Buttes_Chaumont
I would care if we were talking about PUBLIC art, but this is a wealthy individual’s private collection that he calls a “Museum.” The larger can of worms might be a zoning issue along the lines of commercial vs. residential permitting.
Also, doesn’t anyone else see the incredible irony? The name of the piece itself is “A Folly.”
Carl Campbell wrote, “I would care if we were talking about PUBLIC art, but this is a wealthy individual’s private collection that he calls a “Museum.” The larger can of worms might be a zoning issue along the lines of commercial vs. residential permitting.”
Carl…just for clarification, the art collection is open and advertised for two-hour public tours by appointment throughout the year by donation to the Lambiel Foundation. Since Leo resides on the property, this activity has been deemed by SJC to be residential in nature and not commercial…the current lawsuit has no underlying zoning issues.
Fred Klein writes earlier that “access to Leo’s temple ruin is very tightly restricted and limited to visitors on guided tours.”
I don’t believe this is what is commonly referred to as PUBLIC art.
Also, my dictionary’s second definition for “folly,” the one I’m assuming we’re talking about, reads: “a costly ornamental building with no practical purpose, esp. a tower or mock-Gothic ruin built in a large garden or park.”
As the very definition includes “costly” and “with no practical purpose,” I have little sympathy for Lambiel’s situation with the county.
Hello,
I was concerned reading this article. I’m a planner who just visited Orcas recently and want to help in any way I can. The County sounds extreme. Unfortunately, it sometimes helps if a not emotionally involved, third party, with professional experience can take or advise you on the steps to take to ensure due process of the law. The land use laws are not supposed to “arbitrary and capricious” and must be “reasonable”. If the law is not reasonable, the process of changing it to make it reasonable must ensue. Until that time there are several other options you could try. I’d like to help. Please call me. Michelle (360)674-6921
These situations exist to show the necessity to bridle authority and grant back to the people the very thing always having been mandated by the code “The building code board of Appeals” as well “The Board of adjustment”. A board of capable citizens seated to consider any particular case when in its opinion, the enforcement thereof would do manifest injustice, and would be contrary to, in spirit and purpose of those codes or Public Interest. This county has stood against such boards, in favor of unbridled authority left only to the governing body, or the prosecuting attorney’s.
Unfortunately the people, “those having not yet found their place on the government payroll” have all but lost their real authority in defining the ways and means of their own government
To Carl Campbell: Irony? Here’s an irony of your own creation:
“a costly ornamental building with no practical purpose, esp. a tower or mock-Gothic ruin built in a large garden or park” … this is THE definition of art. All art is costly, since it requires thought, materials (many quite costly), and labor (often lots thereof), and has no practical purpose – and I might add generally goes un-remunerated! Leo could have more easily “invested” his time and money in the stock market… but instead has devoted tremendous effort, time, and money to supporting local artists by purchasing and displaying their works. For the most part, Leo’s investment will also go un-remunerated. But visitor’s time at the museum will not… the enjoyment of guest’s is his only reward.
The tedious brouhaha over the Lambiel Museum Greek Temple/ gazebo overshadows the great boon to the island the museum represents. Mr. Lambiel’s gift to the public has been his intense consideration of San Juan artists working far from major art markets. His encyclopedic knowledge of the art and great creative architecture mixed into the museum are by themselves reason to visit Orcas.
I’m sorry, but I would want to hear the other side before jumping on this band wagon. The ‘Letter to the Editor” is written to sound like an impartial article but it is written 100% by one of this conflict. I am not ready to jump in and rail on our friends and neighbors on San Juan Island before hearing the other side. This isn’t some big government, it’s our small county. This was a seriously weak showing by Margie at Orcas Issues not jumping in and doing a little real reporting instead of posting this inflammatory pseudo article. Shame on you Margie.
It very clearly says that it is written by Leo and is clearly titled a letter to the editor.
I think Margie owes no apologies for posting this. If SJCounty CD&P wants to refute this letter I am sure she would be happy to post their response.