DISTRICT 7 GATEWAY SCULPTURE DEDICATION

DEDICATION CELEBRATION FOR NEW DISTRICT 7 GATEWAY SCULPTURE IN  MIDTOWN NORTH NEIGHBORHOOD ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 FROM 3:30-5:30PM

Unique collaboration between UrbanArt Commission, Metal Museum and
Midtown North Community Association results in new landmark.

What was once a neglected street corner now serves as showcase for a large-scale steel sculpture that symbolizes resurrection and regeneration at the southwest corner of Hollywood Street and Chelsea Avenue. The vibrantly painted work of art, inspired by the Tennessee State Tree – the Dogwood – was designed, forged and fabricated by the Metal Museum, the only such museum in North America.

The dedication and celebration for the sculpture will be hosted by the Midtown North Community Association and Rhodes College on Thursday, September 6^th from 3:30 to 5:30pm. The public is invited to attend and enjoy refreshments, music, and a speaker program featuring District 7 Councilman Lee Harris and other local leaders.

The Metal Museum’s team of professional sculptors and metal smiths includes shop foreman Jim Masterson, blacksmithing apprentices Abraham Pardee and Michael Chmielewski, and Project Coordinator Holly Fisher. The Dogwood Gateway stands 12 feet tall and spans 10 feet across. Its blossoms glisten in the sun and invite passersby to stand in the shade it creates, while serving as a new landmark for motorists and the neighborhood. Parking is available.

The UrbanArt Commission, the independent non-profit organization that administers the City of Memphis Percent-for-Art Program, commissioned the project through an open, local competition. Seven Gateway projects – one for each of the City Districts – are under way, with the District 7 dedication to take place as the first. The mission of the organization is to enhance the cultural vibrancy of the community through public art.