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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