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From idea to installation – how art comes to be in the city

lot of pieces come together between the idea of a sculpture and the installation of a sculpture. Those pieces include a site, an artist, a work of art and, of course, funding.

High-visibility locations are at the top of our list because we want people to enjoy our art as they go about their lives. Some pieces, however, need a more intimate setting. The tenderness of Memory of Green, for example, calls for the sheltered, peaceful spot it enjoys in a grove of trees outside an office complex.

Sometimes developments are planned with sculpture in mind. It was obvious from the beginning that the important City Center project deserved important art, so the nearby traffic circle was designed to accommodate sculpture.

Sometimes we select a site first, then seek out a work that suits it. Sometimes we start with an artist whose work we think belongs in Newport News, and try to find a site that’s just right for it.

The strong, clean lines of Elements and Spring Breeze work well in locations where most people see them only briefly while driving by.

Izar’s soaring verticals are well suited to the airport’s entrance. The machined look of Reinvented is perfect for an industrial and office park. The gentle, unfolding calm of Spirit of Life suits a hospital grounds, and Build a Dream’s energy and movement reflect the aspirations underpinning the community revitalization project it anchors.

Visibility is an issue: We need to make sure the art is easily seen by passersby and consider the angle from which they will approach it. We consider whether they’ll be in cars or on foot. We take care not to compromise the visibility at intersections.

We make sure there’s a mix of art in Newport News. Not everyone likes every piece, but a broad variety ensures that everyone can find pieces they enjoy and pieces that challenge them to think or wonder. Our collection includes both figurative and abstract works, pieces with strong traditional roots and some that are contemporary.

Once an artist is chosen, we bring them to Newport News to see the site. Sculptors are sensitive to the environment in which their work will be placed, and they need to see the context first-hand so they can take it into account as they create.

For every piece of art a funding source must be found. Sometimes, it follows naturally from the site. When the decision was made to put sculpture in front of a new building in Oyster Point, the developer stepped forward to fund it. Riverside Health System and Dr. Hugh McCormick and his family generously sponsored Spirit of Life. In other cases, we turn to the community that will enjoy the art — money for Carambola came from the neighborhood around the library where it’s placed.

It takes architects, engineers and construction crews to make sure a sculpture is secure on its foundation. Crane and rigging specialists lift the pieces which weigh thousands of pounds and put them down in place. Lighting designers work with artists to make sure each piece looks just right at night. Landscape design is customized to the site and custom benches are added at some pieces so people can stop and enjoy “their” art.

Public art does many things for a city:

• It inspires pride.
• It marks special places and adds a grace note to ordinary places.
• It offers residents and visitors a source of enjoyment that’s always open, always accessible.
• It defines a sense of place and identity. It creates landmarks, and even icons that come to stand for a city. An arch’s sweep says St. Louis, the Trevi Fountain is instantly identifiable as Rome, and with just a glimpse of a stone obelisk, you know the setting is Washington, D.C.

Fortunate people don’t have to travel far to enjoy quality art. Their cities have made a decision to incorporate sculpture into public places for the enjoyment of residents and visitors. Here are some of them:

Great art has happened in many places because leaders made it happen. One of the most effective ways cities have found to do that is with “percent for the arts” programs. They decide, and pass legislation to ensure, that a portion of the money for every major publicly funded construction or renovation project is set aside for the acquisition and maintenance of permanent public art. Typically, the percentage is between .5% and 2%, with a maximum of, say, $600,000.

The city’s buildings benefit from the addition of art, inside and out, and the public benefits from having some of their tax dollars invested go to something they can enjoy, something that enhances the quality of life in their community.

Percent for the arts programs usually only apply to projects funded with public dollars, but they can create an environment that encourages private developers to make art a priority, too.

About half the states and many localities have adopted “percent for the arts” programs. Here are some of them:

At this time the City of Newport News has not adopted a “percent for the arts” program. Please be an arts advocate and request to City Council Members to adopt this program to further make art the fabric of our great city.

The works of art commissioned and installed by the Newport News Public Art Foundation join a diverse body of public art that Newport News residents have enjoyed for many years. Here are some of the favorites among the pieces owned by museums, Christopher Newport University, the City of Newport News and private organizations. Take a driving tour of these favorites and the Foundation’s collection by downloading a brochure developed by the Newport News Tourism Development Department and Newport News Public Art Foundation.

Newport News Television Video: Art Happens in Newport News