After more than a year of behind-the-scenes work, the North Shore Community Public Art Committee has revealed its selection of three finalists for a sculpture to be located at the corner of Woodland and Frazier avenues. Community members can voice their opinion through paper ballots available at select North Shore merchants or on the Public Art Chattanooga Facebook page through Friday, June 15.
“Public art is really something that belongs to everyone,” said Peggy Townsend, director of Public Art Chattanooga. “This is a really unique chance to let them help select something – public art in its truest form.”
The North Shore Public Art Committee was formed a year and a half ago by District 2 Chattanooga City Councilwoman Sally Robinson in order to take advantage of the Art in the Neighborhoods matching grants available to each district. Through Art in the Neighborhoods, the committee was eligible to receive up to $15,000 for the project from the Lyndhurst Foundation, said Townsend.
Composed of about a dozen neighborhood residents and merchants, the NPAC successfully raised $35,000 through fundraisers held at various homes in the community as well as through large private donations, she said.
“It’s all privately funded,” said Townsend. “No taxpayer dollars are used.”
Committee members put out a national call to artists for a permanent piece to be located in the center of the community that would capture its eclectic personality, she said.
“They wanted it to be iconic, something recognizable that would speak to diversity and unity,” said Townsend.
Of the 75 submissions received, she said the committee selected five artists to come to Chattanooga for an interview and to present their proposals. Three were selected as semifinalists, and renderings of the proposed pieces were revealed to the public June 2 during the All Things Northshore celebration sponsored by Public Art Chattanooga and Northshore Fellowship.
“Each of the pieces is really unique and represents the North Shore,” Townsend said.
At 12 to 14 feet tall, the sculptures are fairly large in scale.
One is industrial, described by Townsend as very abstract and elegant; another is bright and colorful, made from painted enamel; and one is a figurative piece made of architectural concrete.
Townsend said once the piece has been selected it should be installed within six months.
Other areas benefiting from Art in the Neighborhoods grants include Brainerd and Hixson, and St. Elmo will soon begin planning for a public art project as well, she said.