The site at the corner of First and Kingsley in Ann Arbor where stone sculptor Joshua Wiener has plans for a public art project in conjunction with a new rain garden the city is planning to reduce flooding in the area. The city demolished a house on the property to make way for the project.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
Wiener is an stone sculptor, and his public work can be found in Florida, Washington, Oregon and Colorado.
He is currently working on public commissions for San Luis Obispo, Calif.; Oklahoma City, Okla.; and Denver, Littleton, and Boulder, Colo.
The city issued a request for proposals last November, asking artists to submit ideas for an artwork at the First and Kingsley site. A budget of $23,380 was established for the project.
A selection panel, which included stakeholders from the neighborhood, reviewed more than 20 submissions and selected Wiener.
The artist is expected to be on site at First and Kingsley at 10 a.m. Tuesday. City officials said that will be another opportunity for the public to meet the design team and discuss the plan.
The city’s Public Art Commission also will be hosting an information table at the Ann Arbor Townie Party from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Monday, where the artist will be in attendance and exhibiting the design.
The city stipulated the artwork must generate community interest in the site and encourage common use of the location.
The goal of the artwork is integrate public art into the features of the rain garden. It was a requirement that it must contribute to the purpose of the rain garden, which is to reduce flooding in the sunken, flood-prone area by increasing the potential for stormwater infiltration.
The city had encouraged artists who work with natural materials and have experience creating lasting earthworks art to apply.
To view some of Wiener’s past work visit www.joshuawiener.com.
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