Art unveiling on Wednesday
Dan Pinkerton of Pinkerton Retirement Specialists, LLC and founder of the Idaho Wildlife Museum, stands by the art donation that will be unveiled at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Riverstone development.
BILL BULEY/Press
COEUR d’ALENE — Dan and Kathryn Pinkerton, of Pinkerton Retirement Specialists, LLC and founders of the Idaho Wildlife Museum, are excited to announce the unveiling of their art donation to the Coeur d’Alene community on permanent loan from the Idaho Wildlife Museum to the Coeur d’Alene Arts Commission.
The ceremony will be at 4 p.m. Wednesday to unveil the $250,000 art piece.
This piece will stand in perpetuity on a new landscape in Riverstone, overlooking the pond adjacent to the Idaho Wildlife Museum. With an emphasis on the beautiful natural history of Coeur d’Alene and greater North Idaho, the piece will showcase the strong wildlife native to the Pacific Northwest.
“The situation surrounding the previous piece at that location was unfortunate for our entire community. Since the removal of Marker 11, there was an empty platform serving as a reminder of the whole ordeal. The city has newly landscaped this spot into a beautiful dry riverbed,” Dan Pinkerton said. “My wife and I wanted to help our community move forward while paying homage to a piece of Idaho everyone loves … Our local wildlife.”
“The animal we chose is a symbol of strength and courage,” said Kathryn Pinkerton.
The art platform has been empty since November. The former art piece, known as Marker 11, was wrought with controversy as it drew upon the symbolism of a communist regime to make a statement of the coal industry. After heated debate and even death threats upon the Coeur d’Alene Arts Commission, Marker 11 was removed.
The 1,800-pound wildlife bronze sculpture was one of the final pieces created by the world-famous artist, Lorenzo E. Ghiglieri. Ghiglieri’s work can be found in the White House, the Vatican and in the homes of celebrities around the world.