Public Arts Master Plan Provides for Care and Conservation of Public Art The recently completed restoration of Bounce, the colorful steel sculpture outside the Dunedin Community Center, is a result of a well-conceived Public Arts Master Plan by the City’s Arts and Culture Committee, City Commission and City Staff. The City of Dunedin Public Art Consultant, Elizabeth Brincklow, reports that the sculpture has been thoroughly repaired, sanded and repainted for the first time since it was installed in 2008. Bounce is one of many large outdoor installations exhibited in private collections and public spaces around the world created by the late Sonoma County, California sculptor Robert Ellison. Ellison passed away in 2012. Architect Rod Collman of sdg Architecture, Dunedin, designed the Dunedin Community Center and was on the selection committee when Ellison’s work was selected in 2007. above left: Bounce receiving a thorough washing before sanding and repairs above right: Areas of rust are repaired and sealed (photos: Elizabeth Brincklow) “We sent out a call for artists and got a lot of very nice entries,” said Collman. “But Wow! I was taken aback with this proposed installation from an artist in California. It reflected a recreational overtone with a bouncing ball theme that tied in so well with the Community Center yet was still beautifully abstract. Despite the excellence of other entries, it was easy to get a consensus on Ellison’s proposal. There is no question about the quality of the piece we got,” said Collman. “We want our town to look its best and the City of Dunedin, long recognizing the value of public art, has been great to work with,” said Brincklow. “I have been honored to act as the Public Art Consultant on this project since 2017 and to author the City of Dunedin’s Public Art Master Plan, approved by the City Commission in 2018.” above: Thaddeus Root, Principal and co-owner of St. Cate Fine Arts, sanding an element of Bounce below left: Bounce in primer ready for color below right: First layers of color being applied (photos: Elizabeth Brincklow) The plan evaluates new and appropriate projects and gifts of art, creates a balance in terms of what styles and media are incorporated and includes conservation of artworks. From plaques and markers to murals and sculptures, the City of Dunedin currently offers 21+ publicly accessible works of art. Christine Renc Carter, Curator at the Leepa Rattner Museum of Art in Tarpon Springs, worked with Brincklow to complete nine condition reports on existing public art in the City to establish a funding and bidding process to care for the artworks. After reviewing possible art conservation services to care for Dunedin’s public art, the City Commission chose St. Cate Fine Arts. The firm works with a wide range of art media at a high level of professionalism – and they are local. The firm’s two principals, Desmond Clark and Thaddeus Root, offer over 40 years of combined experience in all aspects of fine art management of art collections for museums, private galleries and institutions, as well as corporate and private collectors. above left: Desmond Clark, Principal and co-owner of St. Cate Fine Arts, applying first layers of color above right: First coats of color for Bounce going on (photos: Elizabeth Brincklow) “Just the search for Ellison’s California studio assistants to find information about the original colors for Bounce was a challenge,” said Brincklow. “When we reached them, they were so pleased to discover the work was going to be restored to perfect condition. Ultimately, the St. Cate team was able to formulate the correct color match. St. Cate has also completed cleaning and maintenance work on several other public art pieces in Dunedin.” The restored Bounce sculpture can be seen at the entrance to the Dunedin Community Center at 1920 Pinehurst Rd, Dunedin, FL 34698. (photo: David Shankweiler) Elizabeth Brincklow Arts, LLC focuses on enhancing the goals of their clients -- artists, arts businesses and organizations, governments and schools -- to create vibrant communities through a portfolio of arts consulting services. Elizabeth Brincklow has developed a strong reputation as an arts leader in the Tampa Bay region and beyond. Experience allows her the strategic vantage point from which to approach each client’s goals and challenges, providing the necessary alignment for long-term success.
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.above and below: Celebration Closeup: (photo by Elizabeth Brincklow) The City of Dunedin is celebrating the first project to be completed under the Public Art Master Plan (PAMP) adopted by the City in 2018. Celebration features a PSTA (Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority) donated bus shelter downtown at Main and Douglas, creatively enhanced by acclaimed artist Catherine Woods. The functional artwork is located across from Pioneer Park, a popular place for a variety of community activities. “We have been in a years-long pursuit to create a public art master plan, find a credentialed art administrator and the necessary public funds to support making Dunedin an arts and culture destination,” said Jackie Nigro, chair of the City’s Arts & Culture Advisory Committee. “This project is a joint venture between PSTA, the First Methodist Church and the City of Dunedin Economic Development Department. The selection committee chose nationally known artist, Catherine Woods, to perform the bus shelter’s transformation into this charming work. We were most pleased when Catherine applied for the project and even more so when she was selected by the panel.” said Nigro. "I was very pleased to partner on this artistic project and hope it brings a smile to the faces of our residents and visitors," stated Robert Ironsmith, Director of the Economic Development Department." below: Celebration - exploring final designs, disc placement, mounting options and color, (photo by Catherine Woods) The Arts & Culture Advisory Committee recommended, and the City Commission chose Elizabeth Brincklow of Elizabeth Brincklow Arts, LLC, as their Public Art Consultant in 2017. The Dunedin resident has a strong reputation as an arts leader in the Tampa Bay Region and authored the City of Dunedin’s Public Art Master Plan. In accordance with the Public Art Master Plan, artworks are funded by a percentage of new development projects, by way of public private partnerships, acquired as gifts from individuals, foundations and other sources including departmental budgets. Dunedin counts 21+ existing public artworks from small works to large-scale murals and sculptures. below left: Rivet test. (photo by Catherine Woods) center: Celebration template test fit. (photo by Catherine Woods) right: Celebration cut metal. (photo by Catherine Woods) below: Celebration fabrications at the paint shop. (photo by Catherine Woods) “The challenge was to enhance an existing downtown bus shelter to make a statement about Dunedin,” said Brincklow. “The design problem was for Catherine Woods to solve, which she did to our delight. The elements are metal discs created in the spirit of Celebration. Each piece has cutout icons– water, a sailboat, orange slices, bicycle wheels, a thistle, and a puppy – all celebrating things Dunedin is known for.” Additional features include circle shapes in the concrete floor of the shelter that repel water, echoing the art and making a dramatic appearance when it rains. St. Cate Fine Arts, a local fine arts collection management and preservation team, did the final installation of pieces and lighting. Catherine Woods’ company, C Glass Studio, is based in St. Petersburg. Her large-scale public artworks in steel and glass, often as tall as 24 feet, can be seen throughout the greater Tampa Bay area and nation wide. Her favorite mediums for making art are stainless steel, aluminum, glass and tile.
“I saw the call for artists from the City of Dunedin and applied,” said Woods. “They wanted something to celebrate downtown, a joyful addition. When we were installing the pieces, people were so friendly and curious. The whole project was fun, happy, like a cheerful party all the time.” Nigro says the success of the Celebration project prepares the Public Art Program for four upcoming projects of larger scale. However, as the program moves forward during the Coronavirus pandemic, Dunedin City Manager Jennifer K. Bramley believes the little bus shelter offers something extra. "It is perfect!” said Bramley. “Who would have thought when the project started that we would need it to boost our spirits during this difficult time.” |