Artist for Riverfront Art Project proposes giant rings

Update #2 — July 27, 2016; 10:45 AM

Colorado Joshua Wiener (more info. below) was awarded $200,000 by the city for a project at the terminus of the T. Tyler Potterfield Memorial Bridge. The bridge will provide a much needed pedestrian/bicycle access from the southbank to Brown’s island and the art work could make it even more of a destination spot.

Wiener has come back with his ideas for the art and it consists of ten, seventeen tall rings. You can check out the  full plan here. My first thought was to scoff but once I really started to look at the proposal it grew on me.

According to RTD the  Public Art Commission’s site team for the riverfront will review the proposal at a meeting today  and it goes before the full commission next month.

Update #1 — February 18, 2016; 10:42 AM
From Eventbrite:

Please join the Public Art Commission and artist Joshua Wiener to discuss the upcoming Riverfront Public Art Project. We will have a discussion about what ideas and themes the community would like to see in the art and then take a walk near the project site. Free Parking is available in the Suntrust Parking lot at 901 Semmes.

WHEN
Saturday, February 27, 2016 from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM (EST) – Add to Calendar
WHERE
SunTrust Mortgage – 901 Semmes Avenue Richmond, VA 23224

Original — February 11, 2016

The city has selected Boulder, Colorado based sculptor Joshua Wiener to bring art to the Dam Bridge, officially called the T. Tyler Potterfield Memorial Bridge. He has created around 30 works of art that are displayed in nine different states.

Press Release:

The City of Richmond and Public Art Commission are excited to announce the selection of Joshua Wiener as the artist for the Riverfront Art Project. Wiener was selected by the Riverfront Art Project team that is made up of key stakeholders for the riverfront and the City. Wiener is a sculptural artist who works in large form stone and metal, while integrating the natural environment into his work.

“I am pleased to see the public art aspect of the T. Tyler Potterfield Memorial Bridge moving forward with the artist selection and call for public input,” said Mayor Dwight C. Jones. “This new bridge and related artwork redefine our relationship with our city’s crown jewel, the James River, as we expand our visual and direct access to the Richmond riverfront.”

Joshua Wiener and the Public Art Commission are hosting a public meeting to obtain input for the integration of art with the T. Tyler Potterfield Memorial Bridge project. The community is invited to attend this meeting on Saturday, Feb. 27 at 10:30 a.m. at Suntrust Mortgage, 901 Semmes Avenue. A tour of the project site will be included as a part of this public meeting. Free parking is available in the Suntrust parking lot at 901 Semmes Avenue. Although not required, meeting attendees may register at www.eventbrite.com/e/riverfront-public-art-community-meeting-tickets-21353793772.

A major component of the Richmond Riverfront Plan, adopted during the Jones Administration, is the completion of the T. Tyler Potterfield Memorial Bridge. This new pedestrian and bicycle bridge across the Falls of the James will connect the north and south banks of the James River. The public art for this project is projected to be completed and installed at the same time the bridge is completed, in the fall of 2016.

Wiener will also hire an intern from the Richmond community and bring them out to his Boulder, Colorado studio to study and work on the project. The intern will also travel to the Marble Institute of Colorado to learn how to create art in stone.

More information about this project can be found on the Public Art Commission website at www.richmondgov.com/CommissionPublicArt.

Images: Joshua Wiener