AMAC developed a public and accessible sculpture park experience behind the new firehouse complex

September 6, 2024 - Athens, OH - As the City of Athens' new firehouse complex on Stimson Avenue takes shape, other shapes in the form of sculpture art are being created and will be on permanent view for the public near the firehouse this fall.

The Athens Municipal Arts Commission (AMAC) convened an ad hoc committee in spring 2023 that developed a public and accessible sculpture park experience behind the new firehouse complex. The sculpture park is part of the complex and aligns with the City's Percent for Art policy for new construction projects. The ad-hoc committee conducted a blind juried selection of six works out of many submissions.

Deputy Service-Safety Director Andrew Chiki, who serves as Mayor Patterson's designee on AMAC, says the Percent for Art sculpture park project is a great example of the City of Athens' commitment to working with its commissions and, in the case of AMAC, making the viewing of public facing art accessible to everyone.

"Athens is a community that values the arts, but it isn't always obvious," Chiki said. "In the last several years a more concerted effort has been made by AMAC and the City to showcase area artists' work. The inclusion of a sculpture park at one of the primary entries into the City not only honors the City's commitment to featuring local artists, but shares with residents and visitors a space where artists' work can be seen and appreciated."

The selected works are made of a variety of materials such as stainless and heavy guage steel, bronze, concrete, treated wood and more. Each selected artist will receive an honorarium for their work. Artists selected for the project are David Griesmyer, Luke Hawk, Virginia Kistler, Kevin Lyles, Joe Warte, and Ross Dipenti.

The City of Athens and AMAC will officially open the sculpture park behind the Stimson Avenue Firehouse Complex on Wednesday, October 9 at 5:30 pm. The event is open to the public and will take place rain or shine. Mayor Patterson, sculpture park ad hoc chair and AMAC Vice Chair Holly Ittel, and AMAC Chair Kelee Riesbeck will host the event that will include a short program, a guided walk through the sculptures, followed by a reception at Jackie O's Taproom.

"AMAC's volunteer commissioners have worked for more than 20 years to promote the arts and make the arts more visible throughout the city," says AMAC Chair Kelee Riesbeck. "AMAC is honored to collaborate with the ad hoc committee, the City of Athens, the selected sculpture artists and the Athens community to create a sculpture park experience entirely on City of Athens property," Riesbeck says. "The AMAC commissioners are especially grateful to the ad hoc committee members who worked diligently and thoughtfully through the RFP and selection process. Their expertise and commitment to the project was a major part of bringing this project to fruition."

Members of the committee are AMAC Vice Chair, artist, Athenian, and Ohio University graduate student Holly Ittel; City of Athens Mayor Steve Patterson; former AMAC member, Athenian, and Principal of Athens City Schools' East Elementary Beth Braun; artist, Athenian, and Assistant Director for Experiential Design at Ohio University's Center for Advising, Career and Experiential Learning Courtney Kessel; and former AMAC member and chair, Athenian, and Associate Director of Operations at Event Services at Ohio University, Chelsa Morahan.

Athenians and visitors to the city can view AMAC's work via the traffic box wrap project seen at Athens' crosswalks, the Athens Poet Laurette role, seen and heard in various Athens venues, and via its newly launched Athens Mural Walk project, accessible through Ohio University's Museum Complex's mAppAthens platform.

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CONTACT: Kelee Riesbeck, AMAC chair, [email protected], 740-591-8058.

Sculpture artist Virginia Kistler is one of the artists selected for the Athens sculpture park installation. Pictured here is her piece, Becoming, installed in Wooster, Ohio. Photo courtesy of the artist.

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