Red Teepee Removal Project

The artwork was surveyed by several art professionals and conservation experts regarding its condition. Red Teepee did not have an adequate foundation created for long-term display and required a new foundation and footing be created in order to safely secure the artwork. The City considered these factors before making the decision to remove Red Teepee. The City’s highest priority is the safety and well-being of the public which ultimately drove the decision to dismantle and remove the sculpture from Lucchesi park.

The recycled steel from Red Teepee went to a local sculptor who would like to honor Peter Forakis’ legacy in future works that will be created from the recycled material. The Petaluma sculptor, who knew Peter Forakis personally, pledged to utilize the materials for new artwork projects both locally and beyond.

Local artist Peter Forakis created Red Teepee in the year 2000. Forakis’ studio was located off Lakeville Street in Petaluma. Forakis passed away in 2009 and left the artwork to the Peter Forakis Art Foundation.

Forakis’ work is considered significant and influential by many, including San Francisco Chronical art critic Kenneth Baker, who credited him as the “originator of geometry-based sculpture from the 60’s.” Sculptures by Forakis have been collected by major museums around the United States.

Red Teepee was part of a temporary art exhibition entitled “Look Out West” in 2003 located in Lucchesi Park. The exhibition featured sculptures by various artists and was organized and curated by Suzanne Wibroe. The exhibition’s artworks, including Red Teepee, were loaned to the event through a curatorial agreement between Wibroe and the City of Petaluma. This agreement outlined a schedule to host the exhibited artworks on the City’s property for a limited time, where after the close of the event, the artworks would be retrieved by the respective artists. 

At the conclusion of the temporary exhibition in Lucchesi Park, all artworks were removed by the artwork owners. However, Peter Forakis informed the City he would remove Red Teepee at a later date, although no date was agreed to in writing. Forakis never returned to remove Red Teepee and passed away on November 26, 2009.

In 2017, local artists and arts advocates approached the Petaluma Public Art Committee about the deteriorating condition of Red Teepee with the hope that the Committee would allocate resources to conserve the sculpture in place.  On September 28, 2017, the Public Art Committee discussed the condition of Red Teepee, including preliminary ideas for conservation efforts. After researching the artwork’s origins and ownership, the City and Public Art Committee concluded that the artwork was never owned by the City of Petaluma and that Peter Forakis’ estate was held in trust by the Peter Forakis Art Foundation, who would also own Red Teepee.

In summary, between 2018 and 2021, letters were sent between the City and the head of the Peter Forakis Art Foundation on the topic of Red Teepee‘s future. The Public Art Committee and City at the time were open to collaborating with the Peter Forakis Art Foundation to conserve the artwork, which was in dire need for foundation repair, and began to pose a public safety issue in Lucchesi park. Due to lack of resources, the Peter Forakis Art Foundation did not have the ability to care for the sculpture nor relocate the sculpture from City property. The City Attorney sent several written requests for the Peter Forakis Art Foundation to remove the artwork; if the City received no response within an alotted timeline, the City would determine the artwork as abandoned property in accordance with Petaluma Municipal Code Chapter 3.08 Disposal of Unclaimed Property and seek recompense from the Peter Forakis Art Foundation for its removal and storage costs. On November 15, 2021, the extended removal deadline expired after several written attempts from the City to get in touch with the Peter Forakis Art Foundation and began the process of planning for the artwork’s removal.

On September 28, 2022, City staff coordinated efforts to dismantle and remove the artwork from City property. The recycled steel went to a local sculptor who would like to honor Peter Forakis’ legacy in future works that will be created from the recycled material.

At this time, there are no plans to create or replace a new sculpture or any other kind of artwork at Lucchesi park. However, the Parks and Recreation department, Planning division, Recreation, Music, & Parks Commission, and the Petaluma Public Art Committee work closely to collaborate on projects and will continue to consider Lucchesi park as a future candidate for public art. The Public Art Committee and Recreation, Music, & Parks Commission are in frequent need for new artworks and sites to integrate public art around Petaluma, which Lucchesi park would greatly benefit from.