HP Market Authority Acquires Four Downtown Sculptures

September 28, 2017  by Larry Thomas in Acquisition, High Point, Industry, Market   

Three of the sculptures were created by Carrboro, N.C., artist Mike Roig and one piece was created by Atlanta artist Phil Proctor.

Proctor’s sculpture, “Comet,” stands 12 feet tall and weighs about 2,000 pounds. It is located on West Commerce Street adjacent to the Natuzzi building.

Roig’s pieces include “Chalice” and “Passionatus”, both of which weigh about 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 were placed in the pocket park in front of the 200 Steele Building at the intersection of Hamilton Avenue, English Avenue, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, and the third piece was placed across from the headquarters of Stanley Furniture at Hamilton Avenue and English Avenue.

“We highly value the public art project as it is something that can be mutually enjoyed by High Point citizens as well as High Point Market attendees,” said Tom Conley, president and CEO of the Market Authority. “When we came to the end of our 2016-17 fiscal year with a small surplus, thanks to the diligent work of our sponsorship team surpassing their goal, and with the end of the loans for the sculptures quickly approaching, the board decided this was perfect timing for such an investment.”

Conley serves on a committee focused on public art projects for High Point along with Dorothy Darr, executive director of the Southwest Renewal Foundation, Greg Demko, High Point city manager, and Jeff Horney, executive director for Theatre Art Galleries.

“These pieces add a whole new vitality to the Market District in downtown High Point and we are all grateful to the High Point Market Authority for their leadership in making these works permanent,” commented Horney.