Local Artist Jorge Garcia Almodovar selected for Permanent Art Sculpture
Posted by GSDispatch Editor in by Lee’s Summit Parks & Rec, Community, GSD Online
Lee’s Summit Arts Council and RED Development Partner on Public Art project at Summit Fair.
RED Development and the Lee’s Summit Arts Council will present the community with a permanent art sculpture on Friday, June 25 at Summit Fair, a lifestyle shopping center at I-470 and US 50 Hwy in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Kansas City artist, Jorge Garcia Almodovar was chosen following a formal call to artists.
Garcia will present the sculpture, entitled “Cresendo”, at the Sounds at Summit Fair concert featuring The Shanks on Friday, June 25th. The concert begins at 6 p.m. and is free to the public. The presentation will occur at approximately 6:45 p.m. and will be accompanied by free McAlister’s mini-cookies to the first 250 attendees.
RED Development sought the expertise of the Lee’s Summit Arts council when a permanent, outdoor art installation was needed as the center’s focal point in its roundabout green space. Garcia’s concept proposal was chosen by the Artist Selection Panel based upon his fresh approach to site specific artwork. While creating the sculpture for Summit Fair, Garcia considered its location within the main street’s roundabout and how passersby may experience the work while walking or driving around the circular sculpture.
Utilizing translucent plastics, industrial metals, Garcia created six curved structures mounted high in a fan-like pattern on three 20’ tall columns. The spiral effects created by these curved panels give a sense of upward movement while the translucent colored materials on the structures overlap and intermingle with one another casting a variety of colors on the surrounding location.
“The Lee’ s Summit Arts Council is very excited to partner with RED Development on this public art project, ” said Hollie Couch, co-chair for the Arts Council. “This hip, contemporary sculpture will aesthetically demonstrate another reason why Lee’s Summit is a Creative Community.”
The Lee’s Summit Arts Council followed best practices in public art to select the artist. A formal call for artists was announced in late 2009. Artists and artist teams from Kansas and Missouri were eligible to submit qualifications for consideration. Artists selected in the first round were invited to participate in a Request for Proposal process, sharing a concept proposal with the Artist Selection Panel, comprised of citizens and professionals from the community. For more information about the LS Arts Council visit www.lsartscouncil.net.
