Readers poll: Should Sonoma keep the ‘Love’ sculpture

“Love” may be never having to say you’re sorry, as 1973’s “Love Story” taught us, but it sure doesn’t mean folks can’t express themselves forcefully about the L-O-V-E sculpture on the Plaza. The temporary 6-feet-tall, bright red metal sculpture by artist Laura Kimpton has been a photo magnet in front of City Hall since its installation in September. With its exhibition sunsetting at the end of January, several readers have suggested the eye-catching work be purchased for permanent Plaza display.

So our recent readers poll asked Sonomans as to whether the “Love” sculpture should stay or go.

Out of more than 500 responses, the “Love” didn’t get as much of itself as one might think. About 58 percent of respondents said “no.” Many of the comments in favor of the sculpture applauded the sentiment and its association with the town’s heartfelt response to the 2017 wildfires, the naysayers cited aesthetics, tourists and an alleged triteness.

One respondent lamented, with seemingly no sense of irony, that, “Unfortunately, this sculpture does not express the current tone of our divisive community.”

Perhaps the most interesting response was a reader who didn’t “agree with the ‘message’ of the sign.”

Nonetheless, here are some of the more passionate responses:

It’s not consistent with the character of the Plaza and has dubious artistic value. It would have a more suitable home on Fisherman’s Wharf.

It only promotes one artist. It’s gaudy looking in front of the beautiful architecture of City Hall. Take it down.

Yes... yes... and yes! Where better to have a family photo taken?

A desperately needed simple, daily reminder of LOVE in an era when the President of the United States preaches HATE.

At the holidays, yes. So buy it and use it as a “popup” installation.

Destroys the image of Sonoma.

I don’t find the “Love” sculpture to be art. It is the word love, with each letter poised on a riser, serving as a gimmicky tourism, social-media prop.

It will not help tourism. Even the experienced and educated visitors relate that type of thing with fighting or politics for someone’s selfish agenda.

The signage makes the Plaza looks like a trailer park!

The sculpture is simple and yet speaks volumes. It certainly speaks to me.

The “LOVE” sign is gaudy and tacky and detracts from the beauty of the Plaza - puhleeze, the Summer of Love and Woodstock are long gone....

Please don’t leave that unattractive cliche up all year. It’s been bad enough having to look at it for so long already.

People love it ... seriously... the tourists and the townies.

Only if Sonoma is the type of place to leave its Christmas decorations up year round.

This is total BS. I’m sick of seeing the same sign.

No. No. No. No. No! No.!No. NO!

Maybe we can move it to where the Vallejo sculpture that looks like a Walmart Ronald McDonald bench currently resides?

Love may have been prevalent in Sonoma during the fires, but unfortunately this sculpture does not express the current tone of our divisive community.

This was completely predictable before “it” went up. Why not paint a red “LOVE” on the Mona Lisa to improve it.

Tourists take pictures in front of it with our city hall in the background. What better PR could we have to symbolize our great city.

When people come to town, it defines who we are and they act accordingly