Proposal for Temporary Public Art Gets Positive Response from Dexter Village Council

A revised plan to accomodate public art in the Village of Dexter is receiving positive feedback from the Dexter Village Council.

The village's Arts, Culture and Heritage Committee presented a proposal to the council at their meeting on Monday that shifts concentration from permanent pieces to temporary works stationed at various locations throughout the village.

After , the committee revised their proposal with options for funding and maintaning public art.

The committee is proposing Dexter's Department of Public Works install five concrete pads for art. A selection committee would solicit artists to submit an application. The artists would then loan their pieces for a temporary display, according to Courtney Nicholls, assistant village manager.

Trustee Jim Carson said he likes the proposal.

"I think temporary is the best way to go," he said. "Five locations with art seems very reasonable and then we can solicit feedback from the community to see if they like it and if they would like to see more."

Trustee Donna Fischer asked the committee how they would measure the success of the program.

"I think it would be based on participation and whether or not it gets the community talking," Nicholls said.

John Rush, a local resident, said he would like the village to consider making the pads mobile rather than permanent fixtures because all sculptures are not vertical and don’t sit on a pad.

"If you wanted to solicit paintings around town, would you hang empty frames?" he asked. "If you agree to installing permanent pads, you are pretty much locked into doing it. The worst thing you can do is give an artist an empty frame and tell them to fill it. Artists don't work that way."

Trustee Paul Cousins, who sits on the Arts, Culture and Heritage Committee said the committee hopes to create a temporary art installation by 2012. Potential locations include Mill Creek Park, which is scheduled to be completed next year; an area near Jeffords and Main Street; ; downtown Main Street; and the farmers market on Alpine Street. The projects could include sculpture, mosaics, decorative paths, historical signage functional art or furniture art.

Trustee Ray Tell said he was happy to see the committe develop guidelines for the installation of artwork.

"I know it's hard to compartmentalize art and I don't want to limit it to certain areas," Tell said. "I think this plan shows great intent and provides a guideline to the artists. I was pleased to see site placement and maintenance requirements included in the plan."

The village council could vote to approve the plan as early as its Jan. 9 meeting.