When Isabel McCall looks at the largest art installation she’s ever been part of, she thinks of the spirit of Chattanooga.
The Girls Preparatory School art teacher, along with her students, took about two months to create a piece called “Procession” that features clothing treated to resemble metal sculptures on a clothes line. The installation on East Main Street, part of Public Art Chattanooga’s “On the Fence” competition, was named the public’s favorite fence on Thursday.
“It’s a combination of different kinds of clothes that people would wear to work in, or party in or celebrate,” Ms. McCall said. “When I started arranging them, they had all this movement in them and I thought, ‘That’s how I feel about what’s happening in Chattanooga. It’s on the move.'”
The competition, funded and sponsored by the Lyndhurst Foundation and Public Art Chattanooga, features eight yearlong installations erected on chain-link fences along the Main Street corridor. Meant to enhance and transform the urban environment, the works of art were created by local artists, designers, teachers, students and architects.
ON THE FENCESOur Shared Home: Battle Academy’s installation of a collage made of recycled materials, located at the corner of Rossville Avenue and Main StreetNatura Tectum: Elemi Architects’ installation of harvested bamboo woven through the fence, located at 1701 Rossville Ave.Rain Wash: Matthew Dutton’s installation of heavy-duty canvasses that will be splattered with watercolor paint located in mesh bags attached to the fence, also located at 1701 Rossville Ave.Procession: Girls Preparatory School’s installation of clothing treated to resemble metal sculptures on a clothes line, located at 401 E. Main St.I Am Here On the Fence: Cat Collier’s installation of a vinyl banner depicting Main Street, also located at 401 E. Main St.Funderwall: Christian Rushing’s installation of a series of Plexiglas columns and wall fixtures, located at 1400 Broad St.Rubber Forest: Joe Thomas’ installation of a meadow made from bicycle innertubes, located at 220 W. Main St.Spare Parts: Set in Stone’s installation of lightweight concrete panels, located at 301 E. Main St.Source: Public Art Chattanooga
“We didn’t know what to expect because this is such a new project and, to our knowledge, there is not another project like this around the country,” said Peggy Townsend, director of Public Art Chattanooga. “There’s artists that work with fences, but not in this kind of urban initiative.”
More than 3,000 votes came in online and at the 4 Bridges Art Festival in April, Ms. Townsend said, with “Procession” receiving more than one-third of the votes. In the month that the works have been on display, she has received much positive feedback from the community, she said.
“I just think it’s a really wonderful addition to the street, and it’s got people talking and it certainly improves the neighborhood,” Ms. Townsend said. “I think it struck a chord with folks because it is very different from other public art initiatives that we’ve done.”
For 17-year-old Ryn Fager, the competition was a chance to come together with her GPS classmates and make something she is proud of.
Hailey Circeo, 17, another GPS student, said she enjoys being able to see all the hard work on display.
“It’s cool getting to see your stuff on the street,” she said.
Ms. McCall said her students learned lessons in teamwork, critical thinking and time management by participating in the project. She said she hopes to take part in the competition again.
But whether Public Art Chattanooga holds another “On the Fence” competition depends on funding, Ms. Townsend said, since each team received $3,000 to build its installation.
“If we found the funding and there was interest, we’d love to do it,” she said.
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