SANDPOINT — Out with the old and in with the new, that’s the motto every summer for the city’s Silver Box art program. 

The City Council unanimously confirmed the next round of statutes that will come to downtown Sandpoint later this summer at its June 3 meeting. Artists Maria Larson, Dave Gonzo and A. Lee Harris had their submissions, all focused on aspects of local nature, selected. 

Local artist Larson’s piece is made up of two welded herons and will find a new home at the silver box location in front of the Post Office. Sandpoint resident Dave Gonzo’s “Seeds of Growth,” featuring a massive sprouting steel pinecone, will take up residency by the STCU ATM at the Farmin Park silver box location. 

The Arts, Culture and Historic Preservation commission decided to put Gonzo’s statue there due in large part to its size, weighing around 225 pounds and expected to be around four feet tall. 

“They just took the tree down there on the corner, so I personally, I don't have a problem with something big there,” ACHP commission chair Ellen Susnis said in May. “That box actually lends itself to something, and like I said, I think that rendering shows the pinecone a little bit larger than it will be.” 

Meanwhile, Harris, who hails from Bonners Ferry, will reclaim her silver box location on Fifth Avenue near the Columbia Bank building. Harris’ statue “Kingfishers” has occupied that spot for the last year, but her new work “The Grass Is...” will take over. 

Harris’ work features welded cats, dogs, moose and birds coming together to form her statue. The commission placed Harris’ work there due in part to its vibrancy, which will brighten the corner of the bank building, officials said. 

“There are a lot of people that do like her work, and it is so colorful and adds vibrancy, too,” Susnis said. 

The city received a fourth submission by Jose D. Trejo-Maya, but it was not selected by the ACHP because it exceeded the size limitations. The commission also had an issue identifying the statute based on the renders submitted to the city. 

Trejo-Maya's submission was a triangular prism made up of acrylic and plexiglass held together by metal frames. The piece is intended to create a mirror hologram effect, according to the artist’s submission. 

“I do want to add one thing about this because we don't have great pictures of Trejo-Maya's submission,” Susnis said. “We're not really sure what that is, even though he met all the criteria. I can't tell from the pictures what those images are.” 

All artists selected will receive a $1,000 stipend from SURA. The selections will be installed at the downtown locations later this summer and remain there until next summer.