As work continues building a new City Hall for the City of Waukesha, one part of the current building is looking for a new home.
A concrete bas relief sculptural mural by Franklin Boggs entitled “Waukesha” was designed by Franklin Boggs. He was a painter, muralist and sculptor who taught at Beloit College from 1945 to 1979, serving for a time as Art Department chair.
“Waukesha” is approximately 12 feet wide by 16 feet tall, consisting of forty to fifty individual concrete relief pieces. Each piece represents a different attribute of the city and the overall shape represents the boundary of the city at the time of installation. The concrete pieces, each weighing approximately 100 to 150 pounds, are affixed to the concrete wall with metal fasteners. The entire art piece weight is estimated at two thousand pounds.
The City’s Public Art Committee and Landmarks Commission are hoping the mural can be saved. They got approval by the Common Council to recommend an appropriate future for the piece. After researching possibilities and knowing the pieces can be removed and reassembled, they are looking for a new home, as well as funding to move it from City Hall.
They are asking any companies that may have interest in assisting with the preservation of the piece by providing a new installation location, purchasing the piece, or assisting financially in the removal and storage of the bas relief to contact Charlie Griffith at 262-524-3529, or by e-mail at [email protected].
Demolition for the current Waukesha City Hall is set for February of 2021.