One coming up, 19 more on the way. That's the main goal of public art in Birmingham. City officials have approved the first major piece of the 20 expected to be installed throughout the downtown area by 2010 as part of its Cityscapes program.
"We hope it will improve the city's aesthetics and make it more attractive," says Jana Ecker, Birmingham's planning director. "It should help improve the city's character."
The first sculpture is set to go up where Woodward and Old Woodward avenues converge south of downtown near the 555 Building. The "Rou A Lou" sculpture by Mark di Suvero will grace the small portion of land for at least two years. It will be is installed by the end of this year.
Di Suvero is the foremost American abstract expressionist sculptor and his distinctive, large bold pieces can be found all over the world. His focus on I-beams and heavy gauge metal make him popular in this medium. Many of his pieces contain sections that are allowed to swing and rotate to give the overall form a considerable degree of motion. His piece “Rou A Lou” incorporates a large tripod I-beam frame with three balls suspended 10 feet in the air.
"It's a pretty prestigious sculpture to have," says Joe Valentine, the city's liaison to the Birmingham Public Arts Board. "This will be a significant piece for the community."
Organized by the Birmingham Public Arts Board and the Cultural Council of Birmingham Bloomfield, the Cityscapes art on loan program provides a continuing installation of temporary sculptures at designated locations in Birmingham on a schedule of every two years.
Source: Jana Ecker, Birmingham planning director and Joe Valentine, the city's liaison to the Birmingham Public Arts Board
Writer: Jon Zemke
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