Greenwood Pond artist challenges demolition

The artist behind Greenwood Pond's boardwalk alleges the Des Moines Art Center distorted her words from more than a decade ago "in the unseemly effort to destroy" her work.

Why it matters: Demolition is slated to begin next week for " Greenwood Pond: Double Site ."

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• Artist Mary Miss contends a 1994 contract prohibiting changes to the work without her written approval is still enforceable.

Catch up fast: The wooden pavilion opened in 1996 as part of a beautification project and a way to " move art outside the walls " of the adjacent museum.

• It has fallen into disrepair on multiple occasions and needs around $2.6 million in repairs .

State of play: DSM Art Center director Kelly Baum published an open letter in February outlining current hazards associated with the pavilion.

• In 2012, Miss recommended deinstalling her work if repairs weren't feasible, Baum wrote in the letter.

The other side: Miss contends the 2012 letter she wrote to former art center director Jeff Fleming did not give consent to the current proposed demolition.

• Her one conditional remark about removal was made in the context of a possible partial disassembly, she wrote in a recent letter.

State of play: Multiple residents urged the DSM City Council to save the pavilion during a meeting Monday, the DSM Register reports .

Yes, but: On Wednesday the art center issued a press release announcing demolition.

• The city will collaborate with the art center to"reimagine" the park, Mayor Connie Boesen said in yesterday's announcement.

What they're saying: An art center agreement with the city covers public safety matters, which predates and supersedes the one with Miss, Amy Day, a spokesperson for the art center, tells Axios.

What's next: The Cultural Landscape Foundation, an advocacy group based in Washington, D.C., contends the demolition raises legal and ethical issues .

• The group will make a statement about possible next steps to save the work in the coming days, spokesperson Nord Wennerstrom tells Axios.

The ramp at Greenwood Pond in December. Photo: Courtesy of The Cultural Landscape Foundation