Town Supports Public Art Project By Frank Ruggiero The Boone Town Council supported a resolution from the Downtown Boone Development Association to establish an ongoing public art project. The council heard from DBDA director Tuesdae Rice and project coordinator Mary Baker at the Dec. 21 meeting. Rice explained the DBDA’s public art committee has been meeting and deliberating since the spring of 2005. About a year and a half ago, the Watauga County Arts Council teamed with the DBDA to apply for a planning grant through the N.C. Arts Council to gather funding to form a comprehensive plan for urban art in downtown Boone. Rice said a plan was formulated with input from Boone Public Works, Boone Tourism Development Authority, Appalachian State University, High Country Host, Boone Area Chamber of Commerce, the business community and media representatives. She said an objective is for the plan to correspond with a master plan for downtown Boone. The public art committee plans to select pieces of artwork, be it murals or sculptures, for placement downtown. This could also include functional art, such as benches or manhole covers. “We’re moving out of the planning point and getting into the implementation part,” Rice said. On Dec. 6, the town’s community appearance commission expressed its support by passing a resolution, and Rice asked the town council to do the same. Council member Rennie Brantz asked which areas of downtown would be affected, and Baker said the central core district would be the target area. “It would be the type of program with complete community involvement,” she said. Acknowledging there is limited space in downtown Boone, Baker said the DBDA would seek the involvement of private investors. “And also from the town’s viewpoint, we would have lots of good opportunities to make changes in just the general street-scape, so it’d be a complete area.” Rice said the committee received maps from the town to help identify ideal spots for public art. So far, 12 have been considered. Mayor Loretta Clawson asked about maintenance of the art, and Baker said general upkeep would be part of the responsibility of the public art committee. “If we put a piece of art up, the DBDA would accept indemnification for that particular piece,” Rice said, adding it costs $320 a year to insure a sculpture. “So, we’d carry that and add it onto our current policy. Vandalism would be the only particular challenge, and that’s something our insurance would cover.” As an example for a first site, Rice suggested the area between town hall and the Vetro building. Since that is town property, she said pieces will be movable, though they’re donated to the cause on a permanent basis. “Given the fact there may be some changes, that’s why we wouldn’t want to have these permanent — if there are sidewalk changes, et cetera, these things could actually be moved,” council member Janet Pepin said. “It’s very important that the first piece is in a central location and, furthermore, it really needs to start on public property and not on private property,” Rice said. Council member Dempsey Wilcox moved to support the resolution, Brantz seconded, and the motion carried unanimously. In discussion, town manager Greg Young said there may be liability issues about having art on town property, when the art doesn’t belong to the town. He also suggested the council reserve the right to approve any and all art renderings that go on town property, “so you’re sure it’s in keeping with what you want to see on town property.” Pepin agreed, saying the council and DBDA would have to work on such details, and council member Bunk Spann suggested the DBDA meet frequently with Young to discuss the matter outside of council chambers.