Memorandum
Date: March 10, 2026
To: The Honorable Brad Rasmussen, Chair, Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Lars Ewing, Public Services Director
Subject: Consideration of Amendment Two to the Agreement for the Creation and Installation of the Lake Pomo Family Sculpture
Executive Summary
On November 28, 2023, your Board approved a contract with Nordhammer Art Foundry to create and install a Lake Pomo family statue to be placed on the grounds of the Historic Courthouse Museum in Lakeport. Nordhammer Art Foundry, a full-service foundry based in Kelseyville, has been working toward completion of the project, which represents the culmination of nearly a decade of collaboration, planning, and fundraising. Once completed, the statue will serve as a powerful attraction - drawing residents, tourists, and museum visitors to the seat of Lake County. More importantly, it will stand as a lasting symbol of the cultural richness and enduring heritage of the Lake Pomo people. The work was anticipated to be complete by June 30, 2025; however, unanticipated circumstances arose with the artist, and the foundry requested a time extension until December 30, 2025. The extension was approved through Amendment One on June 17, 2025. The artist has requested one additional extension due to personal circumstances through August 15, 2026 to complete the sculpture.
Background
For additional project background information, on July 10, 2018, the Board of Supervisors approved the concept of a sculpture to be installed at the Historic Courthouse Museum in Lakeport depicting a Lake Pomo family. In July 2019, a selection committee was formed, comprised of County museum staff and representatives from all seven local Pomo tribes. The County then issued a “Call for Artists”, and on June 19, 2020, Rolf Nord Kricken of Nordhammer Art Foundry was chosen as the project’s sculptor.
Over the next few years, Lake County Museum staff and the Tribal Advisory Committee to the Museums worked closely with Mr. Kricken to ensure cultural authenticity in the statue’s design. Ongoing consultations with Pomo representatives helped refine the regalia, family composition, and symbolism represented in the sculpture, with an emphasis on resilience, intergenerational connection, and identity. A clay maquette was completed in October 2023, followed by a bronze maquette in March 2024. Work is well underway with the bronze casting process, and the granite slab is ready to be installed, upon which the sculpture will be placed.
Funding for the project has come from multiple sources. To date, more than $60,000 has been raised through community and tribal donations. In addition, a $65,000 grant from the Upstate Creative Corps supports the participation of a local artist. Lastly, in FY 2023-24, your Board approved $140,000 to further support this project.
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Recommended Action: Approve Amendment Two to the Agreement for the Creation and Installation of the Lake Pomo Family Sculpture at Historic Courthouse Museum