Memorandum
Date: June 17, 2025
To: The Honorable Eddie Crandell, Chair, Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Lars Ewing, Public Services Director
Subject: A) Consideration of Update on the Lake Pomo Family Sculpture at Historic Courthouse Museum Project; and
B) Consideration of Amendment One to the Agreement with Nordhammer Art Foundry 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 30th of this year; however, unanticipated circumstances arose with the artist, and the foundry requested a time extension. Staff has considered the circumstances and recommends your Board’s approval of an extension of the agreement term to December 30, 2025
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 Kriken 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. Kriken 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 now underway on the full-size clay figures, an essential step in the bronze casting process.
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 One to the Agreement for the Creation and Installation of the Lake Pomo Family Sculpture at Historic Courthouse Museum; and direct staff to continue work toward project completion.