Art for Art’s Sake Leaves a Castle at Downtown Hotel

The medieval castle that appears out of place in San Diego’s downtown is actually a work of art that, through creative negotiations, has been bought with another piece of artwork from famed American sculptor Frederic Remington.

“It’s art for art,” said Linda Sheridan, an activist in the local art community and a member of the committee formed to restore the murals at Chicano Park.

According to Sheridan, artist Ruben Sega painted the unusual mural on the side of the Hotel Churchill at 8th Avenue and C Street at the request of hotel owner George Fish. The two could not agree on a price for the mural until Sega asked to be paid with the Remington sculpture owned by Fish, Sheridan said.

The sculpture, titled “Coming Thru the Rye,” features four mounted cowboys with guns raised in the air. Sheridan said the sculpture used in the deal is the 18th of 100 cast and is valued at $14,000 to $20,000. The first casting was done in 1902 and was recently auctioned for $4.4 million at Christie’s gallery in New York. The recently traded casting will be displayed at Home Federal Savings & Loan in San Diego.

Sega “negotiated the amount with the owner for about a year,” Sheridan said. “They couldn’t agree on an amount. Ruben said, ‘I would like the sculpture piece you have.’ ”

The mural, begun by Sega on Sept. 1, is being completed by a couple of assistants. He left for Japan on Sept. 21 for an exhibit of his, Sheridan said.

Fish could not be reached for comment, but Sheridan said the hotel owner commissioned the mural “because he has an affinity for the chivalry period.”

The 74-year-old Hotel Churchill is decorated like an English castle. The lobby features suits of armor and other artifacts from the days of knights and damsels, and stone arches lend ambiance to the decor, which a brochure touts as “authentic medieval English castle.”

The 100-room, seven-story hotel, at 827 C St., was extensively remodeled in 1983.

Home Federal officials said Thursday that they hope to display the Remington sculpture before the end of the year in their downtown office. Home Federal spokesman Richard Haack said the bank sees it as “a valued piece of artwork” that should be displayed for the benefit of the community.