The Art Museum of Western Virginia has decided not to use its pre-construction phase contractor, Hunt Construction Group, for the construction phase of its new museum project, museum executive director Georganne Bingham said.

She insisted the 11th-hour move will not affect the timetable for the $46 million project. "Absolutely not. We're still on schedule." Museum officials, who staged a ceremonial groundbreaking Sept. 10, said they want to start excavation work on the site behind Billy's Ritz restaurant this fall and open the new museum in two years.

Bingham said the contract with Hunt Construction gave the museum the option to go a different way at construction time. "It's all legal. It's all amicable. I'm sure they're disappointed. We have to look after our donors and what's best for the project."

Hunt officials had no comment.

Bingham declined to comment on the reason for the switch, but said they plan to announce the general contractor for the project soon.

Bingham said the museum has not yet received a final number on construction costs, but assumes it will be "a little bit over" their earlier estimates, in part because of rising building costs associated with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. "Building materials all over the country are going out of sight."

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Sculptor Judith Damon has abandoned efforts to install her bronze sculpture, "Hands around the World," in Elmwood Park.

"Hands Around the World," which depicts seven children holding hands around a large globe, is already on view at an international school in the Czech Republic. Damon had sought to raise $250,000 to place a second bronze casting of the work in Roanoke, but "indefinitely suspended" fundraising as of last month, according to a written release.

Damon said in a brief interview this week that they abandoned fundraising efforts for the project after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast.

"How can you ask people for money for a sculpture with all the desperate need down South?" she said. She did not rule out attempting the project at another time. "Never say never. I just think the timing is not good."

Those contributions that were received will go toward "startup expenses" and to the American Red Cross for hurricane relief, according to a written release from Damon's husband, Herb Detweiler.

The project was apparently far short of its $250,000 goal. Lee Clark, development director for the Roanoke Rescue Mission, which had been handling the finances for the project through its Lifeline Foundation, said Tuesday they had received "five or six thousand" dollars. He said the only bills paid out of the donations were minor expenses associated with the fundraising campaign, including checks for the project's bank account, printing costs and some promotional materials. He said the remainder -- between $500 and $1,000 -- would go to the Red Cross.

"It's unfortunate that it's not going to move forward," said Clark. "That's kind of out of our control."

"My heart goes out to her," said Local Colors organizer Pearl Fu of Damon. Fu had hoped to dedicate the bronze sculpture at the Local Colors celebration in the spring. "I was so looking forward to the unveiling. It is still a beautiful, beautiful piece of art."