Giddens Park Art/Fountain

Below is an article in St. Pete Times about a controversy in SE Sem Hts that I'm in the middle of.

Here is a link to the artwork. ignore the specific colors. They were not in original concept drawings and were placed there afterwards for illustrative purposes.

In the article Beverly Morrow says this is for the children and she doubts that the children won't care what the fountain looks liked. I think that more than children will be looking at his artwork. Anyone who goes into the park or drives by will see the art work. ***6/9/05 see clarification***

According to the Request for Proposal for this project "This feature should also function as a strong visual element to the park, becoming an identifying landmark for this community."

What do we want as our identifying landmark for our comunity?

One of the agencies that is involved in the fountain/art project is the City of Tampa's Art in Public Places. On their website they say:

What Is Public Art?
Public art celebrates Tampa's unique culture, diverse community and rich history.
Through public art, individuals and community groups in neighborhoods can express their identity.

What Does Public Art Do?
Public Art improves the quality of life for both residents and visitors alike in creating spaces and/or places that offer a sense of community, a space for contemplation, and/or invite visitors to the community to participate in it’s unique works of art.

What is the mission of the Tampa Public Art Program, what are its goals?
To promote the involvement of artists in projects throughout the city, to enhance the physical environment, and celebrate Tampa’s unique character and identity. There are six primary goals of the Tampa Public Art Program: oversee the City of Tampa’s Public Art Collection; enhance the physical environment of Tampa with artworks of the highest level of quality and suitability for the site; serve as the coordinating body for all Public Art and memorial projects on City property; build partnerships with the private sector, non-profit and community groups that connect the Tampa Public Art Program’s projects to the life of the City;

Does this art work meet that above?

My biggest beef is that the committee that provided input into such art selections did not meet and so neighbors did not have opportunity to provide input.

Homeowners preview Giddens Park makeover

Some Southeast Seminole Heights residents say the designs for a fountain don't suit the neighborhood.

By SHERRI DAY Published May 27, 2005
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/05/27/Citytimes/Homeowners_preview_Gi.shtml

A Giddens Park makeover has hit a potential design snag, pitting neighbor against neighbor over the details of the park's facelift.

Last week, a group of homeowners in Southeast Seminole Heights reviewed plans for the park's supposed crown jewel, a 50- to 55-foot-long interactive fountain. Some residents said the fountain designs are out of place in their neighborhood.

Two of the designs, which were created by Brooklyn, N.Y., artists Carol May and Tim Watkins, are interpretations of 1920s-era toys, complete with a spinning top, jacks and croquet balls.

In the third rendering, the artists created a circus-themed design with a high-wire act and an elephant. Each design is intended to pay homage to the period when many of the bungalows in the area were built.

"These are just things that can be put down anywhere in the United States and have no significant relevance to here," Southeast Seminole Heights resident David Scott Banghart said. "You could put that in a mall."

Banghart plans to hold a neighborhood meeting to address the concerns. He urged a halt to fountain design work until the community has a chance to give its input.

Giddens Park at McBerry and 12th streets is the first of 10 parks designated for improvement by the Mayor's Beautification Program and its Greenprinting Initiative. The park was tapped for a makeover in 2003. So far, a new parking lot, a sidewalk and fencing have been added.

City officials expect the first phase, including a fountain and gazebo, to cost about $383,000 and be completed by fall. Funding has come from the city, the F.E. Lykes Foundation, Leadership Tampa and the Southeast Seminole Heights Civic Association, city officials said.

Last summer, the city put out a national request for artist proposals. The designs became an issue last week when Andrew Baker, a Southeast Seminole Heights Civic Association member representing the neighborhood in meetings with city officials, presented the plans to homeowners.

When Baker counted votes Monday night, residents chose the croquet ball design as their favorite. But some refused to vote, citing displeasure with the choices.

"I don't expect everybody to like what we have," said Baker, who questions where critics were during the initial planning stages. "But I expect them to say based upon what we've been given "this is the best of the three."'

Robin Nigh, manager of Tampa's Public Arts program, said it's healthy for public art to elicit a visceral response.

"None of those are final designs," said Nigh, who expects the artists to visit Tampa next month. "The artists are very happy to listen to the community and the neighborhood."

Civic association president Beverly Morrow said dissenters represent only a small portion of homeowners.

"This is for the children," Morrow said. "As long as the fountain is safe and large enough to accommodate a number of children without them bumping into each other, I doubt that the children are going to be concerned with what the artwork looks like."

Sherri Day can be reached at 226-3405 or sday@sptimes.com [Last modified May 26, 2005, 08:27:04]