Thursday, July 17, 2008

Auction Street Traffic Circle Project







Artist James Russell of Lomita, CA, is currently installing the sculpture Zephyr at the Auction Street traffic circle on Mud Island.

The Auction Street Traffic Circle project is a City of Memphis Percent for Art project, created in conjunction with the Riverfront Development Corporation (RDC). The RDC wanted the art enhancement to help obstruct the view of traffic to force drivers to slow down as they go around the circle, and it works - you can't help but look at the sculpture!

James Russell created the 16’ tall stainless steel sculpture for the location, comprised of two graceful arching elements.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Legends Park/University Place

Please join us for a workshop about these two projects:
Thursday, July 10
6:00 PM
University Place Management Office
1045 E.H. Crump

Members of the team developing the sites at Legends Park and University Place will be on hand to tell artists about the sites, the master plans for each site, and the history of the area. UAC staff will present a community-based project to help you think about ways to approach your project. UAC staff will also be on hand to answer any questions about the proposal process.

The deadline for Legends Park and University Place is August 6, 2008. Please see our website for more information.

Legends Park - formerly Dixie Homes
This development is located on Poplar Avenue close to Downtown. These two pictures show the site in its current pre-construction state.






This shows the area across the street from the development - a parking lot and Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center, which is constructing a new building at Poplar and Dunlap.



Poplar Avenue




University Place - formerly Lamar Terrace
This development is located on Lamar Avenue in Midtown, adjacent to I-240. This picture shows this complex area, with the development to the right, and a pedestrian bridge in front of the interstate on the left. Note that the truck on the far left of the picture is coming from the I-240 off-ramp onto Lamar Avenue.



In addition to vehicular traffic, this area gets pedestrian traffic. This entrance connects the public sidewalk to a walkway in front of the development.



More pictures of University Place:








Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Two New City of Memphis Projects

UrbanArt Commission/Legends Park & University Place
Memphis, TN
Deadline: 8/6/08

The UrbanArt Commission is seeking artists to develop enhancements for Legends Park (formerly Dixie Homes) and University Place (formerly Lamar Terrace). These projects are made possible through the City of Memphis, working in conjunction with the Memphis Housing Authority and the Division of Housing and Community Development (HCD).

Budgets for these projects are $75,000 for Legends Park, for the design concept plus build-out of an enhancement for a main gathering area, and which should focus on the history and community that was Dixie Homes; and $100,000 for University Place, for a large-impact enhancement for a retention pond area that will be visible to pedestrian and vehicular traffic, and will be in front of the development’s senior building.

An artists’ workshop will be held Thursday, July 10th at 6PM to give artists a chance to learn more about these projects, including site information and the history of the areas. The workshop will be at the University Place Management Office at 1045 E.H. Crump Boulevard.

All artists who currently live in the U.S. are invited to submit proposals by 4:00 PM on Wednesday, August 6th, 2008. Application guidelines are available from the UAC and at www.urbanartcommission.org, and artists are encouraged to call the UAC with any questions regarding this project or the selection process.