Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/976488
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM MAY 2-8, 2018 UCW 11 e cit y of Fayetteville, through the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland Count y, currently has sev- eral sculptures on display in various locations down- town. e complete ex hibit is titled "Work in Progress." e public art ex hibit began two years ago with 11 sculptures. Because the sculptures are leased for 11 months, the current ex hibit is the second rendition and is properly titled "Work in Progress 2." ere are now 17 sculptures on display. Private donors matched with Arts Council funding helps make them available to the Fayetteville com- munit y. e Arts Council is aiming to make one of them permanent. e sculptures are distrib- uted strategically to encour- age visitors and residents alike to explore the down- town district. Cit y leaders across the state have been inquiring into Fayetteville's "Work in Progress" Art Ex hibit to learn how they could also implement such an ex hibit in their cities. Various groups, including one homeschool group of 50 students, have requested tours to view the sculptures and learn about the artists and mean- ing behind the art. e cit y's new mobile app offers self-guided tours using an interactive map that shows where to find the sculptures. It's available for both Android and iPhone and is free. One sculpture in the exhibit has captured the hearts of many in the community. e public artwork is called "Natural Embrace" by sculptor Paul Hill. It is located at Person Street Plaza across from the Cumberland County Courthouse. e sculpture, made of metal, depicts a spiraling Venus flytrap. In a community wide survey, "Natural Embrace" was voted the favorite out of the 15 works of public art that were installed over the course of the year. ere is currently a drive to raise funds to purchase it and make it permanent so it can be enjoyed for generations to come. e price for Fayetteville to purchase the sculpture is $40,000. e Arts Council's goal is to raise $20,000 through fundraising efforts, and then it will contribute up to $20,000 in matching funds. Dona- tions have ranged from $1 from a young child to over $2,000 from a resident committed to the arts. So far, $17,752 has been raised. Janet Gibson, director of market- ing and communications for the Arts Council, has no doubt the Arts Council will meet the goal by the deadline. "anks to the generos- ity of community donations, I am confident 'Natural Embrace' will be a permanent fixture in downtown Fayetteville," she said. If purchased, "Natural Embrace" will be the third permanent sculp- ture placed by the Arts Council in downtown Fayetteville. e sculptures "Tree of Good and Evil" and "Dancer" were both dona- tions. Eric Lindstrom and Kennon Jackson donated the former and Dr. and Mrs. Patrick Callahan donated the latter. Gibson explain that in the unlike- ly event that the Arts Council falls short of its goal of $20,000 to put toward purchasing "Natural Em- brace," the sculpture would move on to another city in September and donations would be returned. Do- nors would also be given an oppor- tunity to repurpose their donations to the Art Council. Learn more about the project at w w w.theartscouncil.com/natural- embrace. Embracing 'Natural Embrace' by CHARLES BOSWORTH NEWS CHARLES BOSWORTH, reporter. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomingweekly. com. 910-484-6200. "Natural Embrace" s located at Person Street Plaza across from the Cumberland County Courthouse. Advertising Grow Your Business For effective advertising, Call 910.484.6200 today! www.upandcomingweekly.com