[MSN] Couple claim city trashed artwork. The south Minneapolis couple says a city garbage crew destroyed a sculpture that had sat on their yard for five years.

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Last update: November 29, 2006 - 9:50 PM

Couple claim city trashed artwork
The south Minneapolis couple says a city garbage crew destroyed a sculpture
that had sat on their yard for five years.
Tom Ford, Star Tribune

The arc-shaped sculpture, fashioned by her husband from branches of their
cedar tree, had been a kind and peaceful presence for Abigail Jensen of
south Minneapolis.
"I saw it sort of as a symbol of security and safety," she said.

That sign of stability was reinforced by the fact that the 7-foot-wide by
5-foot-tall artwork had sat mostly untouched on their Pleasant Avenue front
yard for more than five years.

Then on a morning in July, a garbage truck came by and a worker grabbed the
sculpture and shoved it into a compactor, crushing it, according to a
neighbor of the Jensens who said she watched the scene from her kitchen
window. 

"It infuriates me that it's not there," Jensen said. 

The couple believes the truck involved belonged to the city of Minneapolis'
solid-waste department. They've spent the months since seeking compensation
from the city in the amount of $1,000. City officials have rejected that
claim and offered the Jensens a $250 payment.

An investigator who looked into the matter on behalf of the city reported
that the solid-waste workers assigned to the area denied taking the
sculpture and that the neighbor who saw the incident could give no
description of the person involved. The neighbor was not immediately
available for comment.

Earlier this week, the matter was scheduled to go before the city's Claims
Committee, but the hearing was cancelled because some City Council members
were tied up on other matters. It was unclear when the meeting would be
rescheduled.

Abigail Jensen said she would continue to pursue the matter with Council
Member Scott Benson, who represents her neighborhood near the city's
southern border. 

She insists the city is responsible for what the Jensens equate to
trespassing and theft. The city "has turned this into a fiasco," she said.

In whatever manner the sculpture was taken, the Jensens say the empty spot
on the lawn has been tough to take. Mark Jensen, a fine-arts photographer
who has sold many of his works, said he had spent at least 100 hours
crafting the piece over the years. 

He estimates that its price tag would have been $2,000, but selling it had
never really been on his mind -- especially not after his wife remarked how
drawn she was to its shape. Leading him to tell her, "It's yours."

Nevertheless, he grew attached to the work as well, and said he's "kind of
had a difficult time knowing it doesn't exist anymore."


Tom Ford . 612-673-4921 . tford at startribune.com