John Hock: A cell tower in a scenic river valley?

Commentary

Two fundamental needs are colliding in the St. Croix River Valley: the need to connect and the need to get away.

With the growth of the Internet and cell phones, we've never been more connected. But with our lives moving at an ever-faster pace, we've never had a greater need to unplug.

Beautiful natural places give us that opportunity. That's why generations of residents on both sides of the St. Croix River have tried to preserve it as a haven from the encroachments of our bustling modern world.

Last month, one of those encroachments raised its 150-foot head when the Chisago County Board of Commissioners gave AT&T permission to build a new cell tower in the St. Croix Valley.

Some local residents are happy at the prospect of better phone service. Others are disturbed at the prospect of a tall tower spoiling their views from the river.

Fortunately, there's a solution at hand that can neatly resolve this conflict. All it will take is moving the tower across the road and making it part of the Franconia Sculpture Park -- then adding some creativity to the mix.

We at Franconia propose holding a national competition for a sculpture to incorporate the 150-foot tower. The winning sculptor would build or oversee construction, and the result would become a permanent part of the sculpture park.

Competing designs would be vetted by a committee including both area stakeholders and AT&T representatives. The winner could be chosen with input both from the committee and from an online vote.

Such a competition would attract international attention and result in a monumental piece of art that would be seen and enjoyed by tens of thousands of people every year.

It would stand both as an artistic inspiration and as a vivid reminder of what can be achieved when people of goodwill work to balance differing viewpoints.

AT&T has won the right to build its tower through the democratic process, fair and square. The company has no obligation to support this idea or any other.

But after posting a profit of about $20 billion in 2010, AT&T might have a few bucks to spare for an idea that will burnish its public image, support art in society and show residents of the St. Croix River Valley that the company wants to be a good citizen of our community.

We'd love to work with AT&T on this. Together, we can create something that will demonstrate what can happen when art and business come together.

John Hock is artistic director and CEO of Franconia Sculpture Park in Franconia, Minn.