High Point City Art Project Will be on Display at Market

March 31, 2016  by in High Point, Market   

Year two will feature three kinetic sculptures by Carrboro, N.C., artist Mike Roig and one piece from Atlanta artist Phil Proctor. Kinetic means that the sculptures move with the wind. Proctor’s sculpture, “Comet”, stands 12 feet tall and weighs about 2,000 pounds. It has been installed on W. Commerce Street adjacent to the Natuzzi building. Roig’s pieces include “Chalice” and “Passionatus”, both of which weigh in at around 600 pounds and stand 10 feet tall, and “Beautiful Whirled”, which weighs 1,400 pounds and is 15 feet tall. Two of Roig’s pieces will be placed in the pocket park in front of the Steele Building at the intersection of Hamilton Avenue, English Avenue, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, and the third piece will be placed across from the headquarters of Stanley Furniture at Hamilton Avenue and English Avenue.

Preparation of the sites for the remaining three pieces has begun and installation take place next week.

“Due to the size and movement of the sculptures, we had to design and construct reinforced concrete bases for support and to allow for the addition of an engineered anchoring system,” said Tim McKinney, director of facilities for the City of High Point. “This design allows the base to be used multiple times for displaying multiple pieces.”

McKinney’s department began preparing the sites on March 21, allowing enough time for the platforms to cure before sculpture installation.

“The Southwest Renewal Foundation is excited to be organizing and sponsoring year two of the High Point Public Art Project in the Market district, partnering again this year with the High Point Market Authority and City of High Point,” said Dorothy Darr, executive director of the Southwest Renewal Foundation. “We believe that public art improves design, appeal and accessibility of public spaces of all kinds, enhancing their social and practical uses and potentiates other concurrent events and activities in town to create an environment of greater interest and appreciation for our Market visitors, as well as for residents and tourists.”

In addition to the local community, the sculptures will be appreciated by a world-wide audience twice yearly during High Point Market. 

“This is a very exciting addition to the landscape of High Point,” said Tom Conley, president and CEO of the High Point Market Authority. “Our Market attendees will enjoy it immensely, and it goes a long way in promoting High Point as a city to them.”

Funds for this project were raised by the Southwest Renewal Foundation. Supporters include the High Point Convention and Visitors Bureau, the High Point Arts Council, the High Point Market Authority, the Theatre Art Galleries (TAG), the Hayden-Harman Foundation, High Point Bank & Trust, and City Project, Inc.

The sculptures will remain in place for 12 months, or until they sell, at which time both artists have agreed to bring in another piece as a replacement at no extra cost. The Southwest Renewal Foundation will receive a commission fee if any of the sculptures on display are sold, which will then be used to fund future public art exhibitions.

The inaugural City Art Project debuted in October 2014. It featured seven locations throughout downtown High Point, including three in the Market district, and displayed outdoor stone sculptures from local artist Charles B. “Chuck” Foster. Since their debut, two sculptures have sold and one has been leased for an additional year.

Looking ahead, the City of High Point has tasked the Southwest Renewal Foundation with developing a master plan of 20 potential locations in High Point at which public art, either in exhibition or as permanent pieces, can be featured. Darr plans to convene a committee this spring to begin this process.