|
|
STEELE CREEK NEWS
New Steele Creek Police Station
Artwork Design Concept Approved
(January 25,
2012) At its meeting today, the
Public Art Commission
approved the design concept for the public artwork for the new Steele Creek
Division Police Station.
Artist
Billy
Lee proposed a sculpture with a circle design that he has
used in previous works. He said the circle complements the
horizontal and vertical lines of the police station. He had etched
Arabic calligraphy into a piece he made for the City of Abu Dhabi
two years ago. He proposes to take this concept to another level by
cutting a tree design into an aluminum plate. The tree represents
the center of the community, growth, protection, and stability, and
relates to the role of law enforcement to serve and protect. (See
Mr. Lee's Concept below.)
The pattern of the
tree will create a variety of reflections and shadows. The sculpture
will be made out of aluminum and be painted with a white urethane
paint and a clear topcoat to create a glossy white surface. However,
the light and shadows will produce a range of gray shades across the
sculpture.
The still unnamed sculpture will
be slightly over eight feet tall and weigh approximately 2,400
pounds. It will sit
on a three foot high circular concrete base, or plinth.
The orientation has not been determined. Mr. Lee plans to visit the
site and test the model in different sunlight angles to determine
what orientation would create the best light effect.
It will require no maintenance but can be washed and waxed
periodically as you would a car.
It
will sit in front of the new police station currently under
construction at the corner of S Tryon
Street and Westinghouse Boulevard
and should be highly visible from passing cars. As one commissioner
said, it would be a "significant marker" for the community. The
sculpture could become a logo or focal point for the Steele Creek
community.
The artist's
budget for the sculpture is $36,260. Additional costs for the base,
mounting, lighting, and other features will come from the overall
project budget. Mr. Lee will work with the architects to coordinate
the sculpture with the base and other features of the site. The
Public Art Commission must still approve the final design after
engineering drawings have been prepared for the sculpture, mount,
and base.
|
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Steele Creek Station
Project
Proposal by Billy Lee
Concept
My concept for the police station is based on the
synthesis of two strong fundamental forms in art and design,
those of the circle and the tree. The idea of the circle is
my response to compliment the contemporary classical
post-Modernist architecture of the proposed police station.
The building is clean, simple and elegant and I wanted to
use the circular form as a way to break up its horizontals
and vertical lines, thus activating fundamental principles
of design contrasts. The circle is one of the oldest and
fundamental forms of design, symbolizing enclosure, coming
together, community, encompassing and all embracing, which
is apt for the function of the building. It has spiritual
and mythological meaning, as well as being a most pleasing
form to the eye.
The tree is an idea that was mentioned by one of the members
of the Historical and Genealogical Society during a meeting
of theirs, which I attended. The tree is one of the oldest
symbols, representing the center of a community, life,
growth, protection, and stability. It has its roots planted
firmly in the ground and is thought of as a place for
gathering, creating a canopy for protection and shelter.
My proposal is that of a contemporary hybrid structure,
suggesting advancement into the 21 st century, while
simultaneously having its roots planted in history. I
consider the circular structure and tree form an ideal
hybrid for the concept of both community and law
enforcement, which exists to protect and serve. |
|
|
To comment on this
story, please visit the
Steele Creek Forum.
Click here:
to share this story to your Facebook page,
or click below to visit the Steele Creek Residents Association
Facebook page.
.
|