Prepared for Crosland

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Sense of Place and Community A Dialogue on
Public Art

• Prepared for Crosland
• by Michelle normand
• Cary Visual Art, Inc.
• April 21, 2008

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Cary Visual Art, Inc.

• Incorporated as an autonomous nonprofit 501
  (c)(3) organization in 1997
• Partners with the Town, sponsors, developers,
  artists, and individual citizens
• Has donated over 50 works, valued at more than 1
  million, to the Town of Cary
• Offers countless opportunities for community
  involvement

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Cary Visual Art, Inc.

• Our Mission
• Promote, inspire, encourage and support visual
  arts, for uplifting the human spirit in the Cary
  Community.

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Sense of Place and Community

• Comparing and contrasting art works in public
  spaces

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Paul Revere statue by Cyrus E. Dallin, Boston, MA

• Does the art contribute to a sense of place?
• Does the art contribute to a sense of community?

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EDAW Inc., Centennial Olympic Park, Atlanta

• Does the art contribute to a sense of place?
• Does the art contribute to a sense of community?

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Carolyn Braaksma, The Green, Charlotte, NC

• Does the art contribute to a sense of place?
• Does the art contribute to a sense of community?

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Carolyn Braaksma, The Green, Charlotte, NC

• Does the art contribute to a sense of place?
• Does the art contribute to a sense of community?

9
Trevi Fountain, Rome

• Does the art contribute to a sense of place?
• Does the art contribute to a sense of community?

10
Barbara Grygutis, Front Row Center, University of
Arizona, Tucson, AZ

• Does the art contribute to a sense of place?
• Does the art contribute to a sense of community?

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Larry Kirkland, The Writers Desk, Childrens
Learning Center, Charlotte, NC

• Does the art contribute to a sense of place?
• Does the art contribute to a sense of community?

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Jim Hirschfield, Sonjia Ishii, The Illusion of
Place, Petroglyph National Monument, Albuquerque,
NM

• Does the art contribute to a sense of place?
• Does the art contribute to a sense of community?

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What is Public Art?
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Public Art Defined

• Art or design created for a specific public space
• Uses a public or community-based process
• Influences public space in a meaningful way
• Provides a social function with respect to the
  way a community relates to that space

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Kids Together Park, Cary, NC
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Kids Together Park, Cary, NC
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Russ RuBert, Curvaceous Kiss, Sears Farm Park,
Cary, NC
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Jane A. Rankin, Join the Parade, Cary Town Hall
Inspiring Art, Building Community
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Barbara Grygutis, Walnut Street Park
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Community Involvement at Work Walnut Street
Park Project

• 11-acre park located at the intersection of
  Walnut Street and Lawrence Road
• Artist selection panel comprised of Cary
  residents, Town employees, concerned individuals,
  CVA volunteers
• At an artist-led meeting, members of the
  community communicated their desire for
• A public space to be utilized by people of all
  ages
• An interactive, hands-on environment
• Art that draws its inspiration from nature
• Use of local (NC) materials, such as brick

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In Conclusion

• Often, successful public art is
• Created for a specific location
• Community-driven
• AND
• Influences a public space in a meaningful way
• Provides a social function with respect to the
  way a community relates to the public space

Inspiring Art, Building Community