Art project gets rave reviews

By Frank Ruggiero

ruggiero@wataugademocrat.com

The Boone Town Council unanimously supported a resolution from the Downtown Boone Development Association to establish an ongoing public art project.

The council heard from DBDA director Tuesdae Rice and project coordinator Mary Baker at the Dec. 21 meeting.

Rice explained the DBDA’s public art committee has been meeting and deliberating since the spring of 2005. About a year and a half ago, the Watauga County Arts Council teamed with the DBDA to apply for a planning grant through the N.C. Arts Council to gather funding to form a comprehensive plan for urban art in downtown Boone.

Rice said a plan was formulated with input from Boone Public Works, Boone Tourism Development Authority, Appalachian State University, High Country Host, Boone Area Chamber of Commerce, the business community and media representatives.

She said an objective is for the plan to correspond with a master plan for downtown Boone. The public art committee plans to select pieces of artwork, be it murals or sculptures, for placement downtown.  This could also include functional art, such as benches or manhole covers.

On Dec. 6, the town’s community appearance commission expressed its support by passing a resolution, and Rice asked the town council to do the same.

Council member Rennie Brantz asked which areas of downtown would be affected, and Baker said the central core district would be the target area. “It would be the type of program with complete community involvement,” she said.

Acknowledging there is limited space in downtown Boone, Baker said the DBDA would seek the involvement of private investors. 

Rice said the committee received maps from the town to help identify ideal spots for public art. So far, 12 have been considered.

“If we put a piece of art up, the DBDA would accept indemnification for that particular piece,” Rice said, adding it costs $320 a year to insure a sculpture. “So, we’d carry that and add it onto our current policy. Vandalism would be the only particular challenge, and that’s something our insurance would cover.”

As an example for a first site, Rice suggested the area between town hall and the Vetro building. Since that is town property, she said pieces will be movable, though they’re donated to the cause on a permanent basis.