ART THOU INTERESTED?
Would you buy a new lamp without
consulting your significant other? For most
people, the answer is a resounding “no.” If
you’re both going to be looking at that thing
for years to come, better to make sure you
both like it.
The same rule applies — but magnified a
thousandfold — for a piece of public art that
will stand in pride of place in Lincoln City
and cost between $80,000 and $120,000.
So, the Lincoln City Public Art
Committee is holding a public forum this
Friday, Feb. 28, to give everyone the chance
to have their say on five proposals for the
piece, which is slated for installation at the
southwest corner of the future Lincoln City
Cultural Plaza.
The committee’s master plan calls for a
large-scale, three-dimensional installation
that will “communicate an exuberant
welcome to Lincoln City, using color and
forms to express the pleasure of connecting
to a place of spectacular natural beauty.”
“We’ve been working on this project for
quite a while, and now things are finally
getting real,” said Public Art Committee
Chair Niki Price. “The city issued a Request
for Qualifications in the fall, and we received
applications from around the country and
the world. The committee has narrowed the
field to five, and now we need your help.”
Friday’s forum will give guests the chance
to hear from all five finalists: Pete Beeman,
Heidi Erickson, Adrienne Peck from
Rohleder Borges, Hilary Pfeifer, and Bill
and Karma Simmons. Based on interviews
and public feedback from this forum, the
committee plans to nominate one of the
artists or teams for the eventual commission.
That selection will be forwarded to the city
council, which will make the final decision.
“On behalf of the other current public art
committee members — Krista Eddy, Deb
Hobbie, Roxce Stavney and Larry Stevens
— I’m extending this call for your opinion,
guidance and feedback,” Price said. “We
envision this work as engaging, monumental
and remarkable. In order to achieve
something of this magnitude, we need the
public. We need you.”
The forum will run from 5 to 7 pm in the
Council Chambers at Lincoln City Hall,
located on the third floor at 801 SW Hwy.
101. Admission is free and there will be light
refreshments.
For more information or to provide
feedback outside of the forum, call Price
at 541-994-9994 or contact the project’s
designated city staff member, Liz Francis at
541-996-1272 or lfrancis@lincolncity.org.
22 • oregoncoastTODAY.com • facebook.com/oregoncoasttoday • February 28, 2020
Examples of previous work (not current
proposals) by, clockwise from left, Pete
Beeman, Hilary Pfeifer, Bill and Karma
Simmons, Heidi Erickson,
and Rohleder Borges.
artsy