Center Street art pieces selected
By Joey Pitchford
Published in News on August 29, 2018 5:50 AM
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Iliana, a 17-foot-tall steel, fiberglass, lace and silicone sculpture, will be added at the intersection of Mulberry and Center streets.
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Popsicles, a 12.5-foot-tall stucco, steel, masonry and wood sculpture, will sit on the center median at 100 N. Center St.
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Universal Inseperability, a 12-foot-tall stainless steel sculpture, will be added at the intersection of Chestnut and Center streets.
It's time again for downtown Goldsboro to get a change of scenery.
Four new art pieces are slated to replace those installed in some of the roundabouts and medians on Center Street in downtown Goldsboro.
Based on a recommendation from a public art steering committee, along with public input, the Goldsboro City Council approved the new sculptures that will be set into the downtown landscape in October.
Iliana, a 17-foot-tall steel, fiberglass, lace and silicone sculpture of a flower, will sit at the intersection of Mulberry and Center streets, while a 12-foot-tall steel sculpture titled Universal Inseperability will inhabit the intersection of Chestnut and Center streets.
For No Apparent Reason, an 18-foot-tall painted steel and wood piece depicting a goat teetering on a suspended orb, will sit at the entrance to the John Street parking lot. The center median at 100 N. Center St. will be home to Popsicles, a 12.5-foot-tall stucco, steel, masonry and wood sculpture of three colorful popsicles stacked on top of one another.
The four sculptures were selected from 10 options, which the public had the chance to vote on throughout August.
The council approved the art with little discussion during its Aug. 20 meeting. During the meeting, Councilman Bevan Foster asked Julie Metz, Goldsboro downtown development director, for the total cost to lease all four sculptures. Metz the cost is $8,500.
The city plans to lease the art for one year and has budgeted $9,000 for the art and installation expenses. Most of the budget is used up -- Iliana and Universal Inseperability both cost $3,000 to lease, while For No Apparent Reason is being leased for $1,500 and Popsicles for $1,000. The city plans to pay for the leased sculptures through the city's general fund, Metz said.
The new pieces will be added to downtown and on display during an installation ceremony on Oct. 12 at noon at City Hall. During the ceremony, artists will be on hand and background information on the artwork will be provided.