Artist urges removal of sculpture

SANDPOINT — The artist who created the “Tolerance” sculpture at the Bonner County Courthouse is recommending its removal.

“The piece was designed to do what it had to do and it did it. It served its purpose,” said David Kraisler, who designed the timber-and-steel sculpture and donated to the county.

County commissioners have been pondering the future of the sculpture after it was discovered that timbers supporting it were rotting away.

It’s also in the path of an expansion project at the courthouse.

“This may be the best time to relocate or remove that statue,” commission Chairman Cornel Rasor said on Tuesday.

The sculpture was donated to the county in 2001 as part of Celebrate Sandpoint, an initiative that was launched in response to a plan by the Aryan Nations to parade through downtown.

The parade never happened, although the Celebrate Sandpoint initiative endured.

The 10-foot-tall abstract sculpture’s timbers are meant to convey a precarious balance. The base of the sculpture was adorned with several plaques.

One plaque urges the support of human rights, while another contains a poem written by a local student that was selected by former Idaho First Lady Patricia Kempthorne. The third plaque honors veterans.

Kraisler is asking county commissioners to retain and publicly display the plaques.

The sculpture generated mixed reactions once it was installed. Some hailed the piece for its unconventional nature, while others criticized it.

Some critics have asked previous and current county commissions to remove the sculpture because they believe it depicts a sex act. An arsonist even tried to burn the sculpture down at one point, but the crime was unsuccessful.

Bonner County resident Mike Clark said he supports the sentiment of tolerance, but contends the sculpture fails at conveying that message.

“We don’t believe that that statue represents the true meaning of tolerance,” said Clark.

Kraisler said the sculpture promotes a broader message of tolerance, a term which has evolved over the years with increasing emphasis on gay rights. While he supports gay rights, Kraisler said that concept was not the sculptural intent of “Tolerance.”

“It’s taken on a different definition,” Kraisler said of tolerance.