"Charlottesville’s ties to its sister cities will soon grow more, um, concrete. The image is a rendering for a “sister city” sculpture, designed by former director of strategic planning, Satyendra Huja. It already has the approval of the Board of Architectural Review and now awaits word from City Council (www.charlottesville.org).

The current plan is for these two blobby darlings to find a home in front of City Hall. Made of Virginia soapstone and seated on a grey concrete base, the sculpture is estimated to cost $10,000 to $15,000—though the City is only expected to throw $10,000 its way. The money comes from a fund set up for art to accompany large construction projects, such as the ongoing transit center on the east end of the Mall.

The vote to approve the project was originally slated for the February 5 City Council meeting, but it got pushed back to February 20 after the hours spent considering the closure of Old Lynchburg Road at the county line. But—as the statue will forever remind locals of Charlottesville’s connections to Besançon, France, Poggio a Caiano, Italy, and Pleven, Bulgaria (which got a Huja designed sculpture in 2004)—how could City Council say no? If it goes forward, expect to see the friendly sisters in the next few months." (Will Goldsmith, C-Ville Weekly, February 13, 2007)