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Arts Fan Leaves Seattle a Conditional Gift

Posted on: Sunday, 16 January 2005, 18:00 CST

SEATTLE - An art lover left his hometown about $1 million to buy a new fountain. But not just any fountain.

The late Stu Smailes made clear the work must include the figure of at least one life-size naked man.

Smailes, a retired computer analyst for Safeco, died in 2002 at the age of 69. He was an only child, with no immediate family.

The fountain bequest represents Smailes' entire estate, except for a charitable trust of about $400,000 that has been distributed, said his attorney, Tim Bradbury.

According to court documents, the bequest is to be used exclusively for "designing, constructing and maintaining a fountain or fountains located within the city of Seattle. The fountain(s) shall include one or more unclothed, life-size male figure(s) designed in the classical style, i.e.: realistic," said Karen Bystrom at the City's Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs.

Bystrom said somebody in her office has suggested the naked-man fountain be part of the Seattle Art Museum's new Olympic Sculpture Park, now a work in progress at the north end of the downtown waterfront.

The agreement is still being negotiated. "The city is going to assign our interest in the bequest to SAM," Bystrom said.

A museum spokesperson said there are no firm plans yet: "We have had conversations with the city and the Smailes estate on the possibility of a sculpture project. However, we have not entered into any agreements at this time and so it is premature for us to discuss any details."

Smailes was a great fan of the arts, especially musical theater, Bradbury said.

"He was a very funny man," Bradbury said, with a "very strong sense of humor."

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Information from: The Seattle Times, http://www.seattletimes.com

Source: Associated Press/AP Online

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