Rugby Gates

One of the joys of being a part of this organization is that we occasionally get to be a part of a different community. Last week it was Frayser in North Memphis.

The Frayser Fall Festival was held at the Ed Rice Community Center. Community members of all ages visited, learned about community organizations, and participated in one of UrbanArt's projects - the Rugby Gates.















“Rugby Gates” is a community-based public art project consisting of two 20-foot-tall brick columns at Overton Crossing and James Road that both identify the entrance to the residential community and mark the location of the historic stone gates. In addition, five pairs of 5-foot-tall brick columns will flank Overton Crossing as it winds up to Woodlawn Terrace.















Artist Gregg Schlanger is using clay form the area to make the bricks for the project. He was on-hand at the festival meeting with people interested in having a name and/or date stamped on bricks that will be used as pavers. Some participants were able to actually make bricks as well.

He will also conduct interviews with residents to gather personal stories that will be translated into simple visual interpretations on tiles that will be part of the shorter columns. All of the columns will depict past landmarks and visual identities of the neighborhood, including the stone gates, water tower, the Wolf River, and the street car.
This project is funded by the City of Memphis Percent-for-Art Program with the UrbanArt Commission.














Below is an article about the project that ran in the Commercial Appeal Wednesday, October 10.