CityView Magazine - Fayetteville, NC
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/807471
CityViewNC.com | 25 "At our hospital, as in life, compassion is our passion." Cross Creek Animal Hospital 2147 Skibo Road Fayetteville, NC 28314 910.868.1164 crosscreekanimalhospital.com Dr. Shannon M. Poole, DVM Dr. Ryan T. Reid, DVM Dr. Erica Y. Richardson, DVM Caring for Your Pets an opportunity to make people smile, to provoke them, to get them to think?" He noted downtown surveys show an overwhelming response from people wanting to see more public art in the future. Artist Charles Pilkey of "Tree of Good and Evil" located behind the Arts Council building believes public art can transform public space. "Public sculpture can entertain, surprise, enliven, create a communal identity and offer temporary escape from the tedium of existence. It can say something about what it means to be a human being living in today's world." His work of painted steel and bronze is a collection of gears, knobs, industrial tools, nuts, bolts and steampunk-like figurines. Pilkey says "Tree of Good and Evil" "is about the impact of technology on the biosphere. e same machines that provide us with a comfortable lifestyle are quietly dismantling the planet's ecosystem. Climate change, sea level rise, species extinction, ocean acidification and a host of other environmental mishaps are the result of our ill-advised use of 'dirty' technologies. My task as an artist has been to make people aware of the magnitude of the problem. With understanding hopefully will come the political will to do something about it." "Tree of Good and Evil" was donated by Mayon & Mackie Weeks. Mayon, who is an Arts Council board member, a member on the Arts Council's Public Art Committee and who enthusiastically supports the efforts to increase the presence of visible art in our community, says that "Tree of Good and Evil" touches a particular nerve for him. "It's an interesting and imaginative sculpture. e vast number of nuts, bolts, screws, chains, etc., coupled with the images of objects and people in pursuit, cause me to reflect on the many facets of lives we lead." Art in the Future ese eleven works will be in place until the end of September. At that point, they will come down and new ones will be installed. is past year, Hurricane Matthew upstaged the installation process. In the future, the goal is to have a "grand and glorious" one- to two-day installation process so the community can get involved. Mintz attested the help from the City of Fayetteville and the Parks and Recreation Department has been phenomenal. Originally, the Arts Council worried aer the hurricane they would need to delay their artistic efforts. "When we said, 'Do you feel we can go ahead and move forward?' the City and the Parks and Recreation Department said, 'Yes. Our community needs this right now. We need something to celebrate.'" To note, these public works of art are for sale. If a business or individual is interested in purchasing one or giing it to the community, please contact the Arts Council. e Arts Council Board will soon present the Public Art Master Plan to the City of Fayetteville. Mintz says, "Work in Progress is one aspect of what we believe will be a robust public art program for the community." She notes, happily, "It's the beginning." If you would like to donate, get involved or showcase your own work through public art, please contact the Arts Council at (910) 323-1776 or email admin@theartscouncil. com for details and information. CV