Laguna Rejects Large Sculpture for Main Beach : Art: The 1,000-foot-long strand of landscaped boardwalk and sand is the wrong location for the 23-foot-tall work, the City Council decides. An alternative site is urged.

The City Council early Wednesday rejected an artist’s offer to place his 23-foot-tall, abstract sculpture on Main Beach but decided to look for another place in the city to display it.

The Arts Commission had recommended that the city accept a year’s free loan of the artwork, which local sculptor Ron Taybi offered for the 1,000-foot-long strand of landscaped boardwalk and sand at the foot of the downtown business section.

After lengthy public debate, City Council members unanimously agreed after midnight Tuesday that while they would be extremely pleased to accept the sculpture, they want Taybi and the commission to find another spot for it.

Several council members expressed gratitude to Taybi and commended his work, an aluminum sculpture abstractly depicting an Iranian poet who demonstrated for the emancipation of women 140 years ago by removing her face veil in public.

“The issue is the location,” Councilman Neil G. Fitzpatrick said. Noting that those who protested the placement of the sculpture on Main Beach had led the city’s efforts more than 20 years ago to buy the beachfront and clear it of commercial buildings, Fitzpatrick said he believes that their opinion deserves “a little extra consideration.”

Several protesters had complained that city officials had ignored local sensitivity about Main Beach by placing the sculpture on a list of agenda items that had been expected to be approved by the City Council without debate.

Fitzpatrick called for a public hearing on the matter after recalling that the city’s bid to place another artwork on Main Beach 11 years ago drew so much protest that the sculpture was ultimately removed.

“It was a mistake to put this on the consent calendar,” Councilwoman Lida Lenney agreed, but she added: “I love the piece of art. It expresses joy and movement and freedom. In a sense, it is what the city is all about.”

After the hearing, Taybi said he was surprised that the City Council rejected his plan to place the sculpture on Main Beach, which he contends would give it the best display and greatest visibility to pedestrians and passing motorists.

“I’m sort of stunned right now,” he said.

Taybi said, however, that he will be willing to seek an alternative spot in town. “We will try to work it out,” he said.