After a sometimes contentious debate on Tuesday, the Wichita City Council voted 6-1 to approve the purchase of 13 sculptures that will be installed on empty art pedestals in Old Town and downtown Wichita.
The pieces were chosen by a 10-person selection committee, which met last summer to narrow down 234 submissions from artists around the country who had responded to an open call. The project was approved last year by Wichita’s Design Council, an advisory board tasked with selecting public art. The council’s members are appointed by the mayor.
The lone nay vote in approving the purchase Tuesday was the mayor…