The curious tale of 'Punchcard Park's' missing lights

When renowned artist/sculptor Maya Lin's giant outdoor artwork titled "œInput" was dedicated in Ohio University's Bicentennial Park six years ago, OU officials praised it lavishly. Others, though, have seemed rather less awed by the piece.

A large earthwork installation based on the rectangular punch-hole pattern in an old computer-programming card, the sculpture installation has been dubbed "œPunchcard Park" by the less reverent.

In an editorial comment at the time the piece was dedicated in May 2004, Athens NEWS Editor Terry Smith remarked on what he perceived as "the sense among many students and staff that this costly 'Field of Holes' gives a whole new meaning to the term underwhelming."

Something many people may not know about the work, however, is that it's missing an important element called for in Lin's original design "“ a series of bright lights, each one focused on a particular part of the earthwork.

A diagram of the original plan obtained from OU shows that the design called for four lamp installations, along the western edge of the 3.5-acre park (between the "punchcard" earth sculptures and Richland Avenue), with lensed lamps in each cluster, each cluster emitting three focused light beams aimed at a specific point in the work.

The contractor who was hired to execute the electrical portion of the installation contract got as far as putting in wiring conduits and electrical hookups for the lights, and there's evidence OU purchased and paid for the actual lighting hardware "“ though its current whereabouts are apparently a mystery.

In any case, the lights were never put up. An OU official explained recently that before the time came to install them, someone "“ six years later, he's not sure who that was "“ decided they wouldn't fit in with the surroundings.

"The original design had some lighting fixtures in it," confirmed Assistant University Planner Richard Planisek. At some point, he said, an OU official or officials involved with the project decided that the lighting as called for was "not compatible with the adjacent areas... I believe it was just aesthetic (considerations)."

As best he can ascertain years later, Planisek said, those making the decision decided that "there was plenty of ambient light" from nearby buildings to illuminate the project at night. There is also a row of more conventional outdoor lights along the opposite side of the artwork, along a walkway, which are not focused on the work itself.

Planisek said that after the decision was made to omit the lensed lights, a change order was made to the electrical contract to take into account the amended design "“ something he said is not at all uncommon in OU building contracts "“ and the payment to the contractor was adjusted accordingly.

AN OFFICIAL OF THE contracting firm that did the electrical work said Saturday that he distinctly recalls the lamps being delivered, and then put into storage.

"They got them," recalled Dirk Walton of the Athens-based KAL Electric, Inc. "We took them and put them in the old heating plant. What they did with all of them after that, I don't know."

Dave Sturbois of Athens, who does electrical contracting work, has been trying to get more information on the changes made to the contract for more than a year. He was one of five contractors who bid on the electrical portion of the contract, but his bid of $73,988 was beaten by KAL's bid of $58,900. (The other three bids were for $74,970, $94,900 and $98,670.)

Through his attorney, Sturbois has made five successive records requests to OU, and has obtained some documents "“ though he believes there still may be pertinent information he has not gotten, such as the current location of the lensed lighting fixtures.

In the most recent letter from attorney Adam Baker to OU, dated June 26, 2009, Baker thanks the university for having sent a variety of documentation relating to the changes in the electrical contract, but complains that some requested invoices have not yet been supplied.

"We are requesting specifically what lights were purchased and from whom they were purchased for this project," the letter explains. "We haven't seen any proof that the P-1 (lensed) lighting was ever purchased."

In a letter obtained by Sturbois, sent Sept. 22, 2009 to the OU Office of Legal Affairs by OU Director of Design and Construction Richard Schulz, the official reported that the only knowledge he has of the fate of the lighting fixtures is that they were "turned over to the staff of Facilities Management," and delivered to the old heating plant, where "university personnel" took possession of them.

The change order to KAL's contract, approved in January 2004, shows that a total of $5,971 was added to the contract amount. This resulted from a reduction of $2,350, stemming from a change in the type of lighting fixtures used, and an addition of $8,321, for relocation of three lensed lights.

Sturbois said he's concerned that OU paid a contractor for the lights to use them on a project in which they were an integral design element, then never used them as they were intended.

"Those lights were a big part of the project," he insisted. "They paid KAL Electric for the lights, and the lights were never installed... They paid the entire amount of the contract, and the lights were included in that, and the installation."

He added that at one point, his attorney told OU that Sturbois would be satisfied if the university would simply put in the lights as originally called for in the design.

Walton of KAL Electric stressed that his company fulfilled all requirements of its contract, and was not paid for anything it didn't deliver.

"We supplied everything we were supposed to," he said.

Lin was paid more than $291,000 for her work, in a contract organized under Ohio's "Percent for Art" program. That program, according to an Athens NEWS story from 2004, was to supply $300,000 toward the project, while OU was expecting to get another $450,000 from earmarked state capital improvement funds.

The winning bidder on the general contract (minus electrical work) was JD&E of St. Clairsville, which bid $395,500.

The Athens NEWS has been unable to contact "“ or even to locate contact information "“ for Lin, to ask her how she feels about the changes to her design. An e-mail to a gallery in New York that represents her went unanswered.

Sturbois said he doubts Lin is happy with the change. At a dedication ceremony in May 2004, however, Lin, who grew up in Athens, showed no indications of displeasure, calling the artwork "a personal piece" that she hoped would be meaningful to "anyone who has spent time in Athens or Ohio University."

Planisek of OU said that if Lin had any objections to the changes, he's never heard about them.

"I've never heard that she was unhappy," he said.