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Arts In Public Places

Public Art in Martin County

Wind Games, sculpture by May & Tim Watkins Design, Halpatiokee Park

In 1997, Martin County established a public art program that included on-going funding for new artworks and the appointment of the Martin County Public Art Advisory Board (PAAB). The collection of the Public Art program includes sculptures, mobiles, stained glass windows, murals, mosaics, benches, photographs, and quilts. The artworks are situated in libraries, fire stations, community centers, administration buildings, parks, and other county owned properties.

The nine volunteers appointed to the PAAB, by the Martin County Board of County Commissioners, strive to make each artwork relevant to the building and surrounding neighborhood. The PAAB determines a theme or purpose for the artwork, asks artists to apply, selects an artist and approves the final artwork.

Funding is generated by an allocation of 1% of the construction cost of a new or remodeled county buildings, regional parks greater than 50 acres and parking facilities.

Goals

The mission of Art in Public Places is to enhance the quality of the visual environment in the Martin County community, both natural and constructed, in order to:

• Promote the spiritual, intellectual and aesthetic enrichment of the community through public art
• Select a diversity of public art for Martin County, Florida
• Select works of art which have aesthetic and technical merit and are appropriate in context to the location
• Select artists who are professionally and technically competent
• Disperse public art throughout Martin County, Florida in such a manner that it is visible and accessible to the greatest number of people.

Projects in Progress

Above, from left to right: Heather Ackers, Brenda Leigh, Taylor Komara

Beach Art!

Brenda Leigh, Stuart artist, has been selected to complete a mosaic mural for the Public Restroom at Stuart Beach and a mosaic sculpture at Hobe Sound Beach. Heather Ackers and Taylor Komara, both Martin County High School students, were selected in March to intern with Brenda Leigh and help her with this project. The students will participate all the way from the initial designs (shown above) to the installation and completion of the projects. They will recieve a $1000 stipend per student, provided by the Public Art trust fund.

At Stuart Beach the Public Restroom will be wrapped with a mosaic, bas relief incorporating Taylor's design and Heather's use of coral in her design. Taylor is the student selected for this project. This design is an educational as well as artistic design to bring attention to our local reef and shoreline.

At Hobe Sound Beach a mosaic sculpture will closely replicate a loggerhead turtle. The sculpture was inspired by the real-life nesting of this endangered species on the beach. This beach project will consist of the sculpture and an educational component. The artist and student will visit Hobe Sound Nature Center and study with the Town of Jupiter Islands' full-time marine biologist, taking careful species and anatomy studies. The knowlegde they gain here will be incorporated into the project, providing the public with education about these precious creatures as well as providing a beautiful visual. Jupiter Island Art Committee has matched the budget, making it possible for the studies as well the mosaic.

This process of artist selection and interns has served the community in hiring local talents as well as an educational aspect for the students and community.

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  At left and below: Photos of the ongoing Public Restroom Mosaic project at Stuart Beach

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Completed Art in Public Places Projects

• Hobe Sound Public Library 10595 SE Federal Highway, Hobe Sound.
  Shell Game sculpture by Charlotte Lees

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  Robert Morgade Library in Port Salerno 5851 SE Community Drive, Stuart. Avian Muse, a mobile by Harry McDaniel (seen at right)

• Hobe Sound Civic Center 8980 SE Olympus Street, Hobe Sound Mural created by Hobe Sound Fine Arts League

• Martin County Jail 800 SE Monterey Road, Stuart
  Oasis, a tile bench by Glenn Schwaiger

• Port Salerno Fire Station 4725 SE Dixie Highway, Port Salerno, Antique hose sculpture by Terry Thommes

• Hoke Library in Jensen Beach 1150 NW Jack Williams Way, Jensen Beach, The Poet, by sculptor Dam de Nogales

• Indiantown Public Library 15200 SW Adams Avenue, Indiantown, Stained glass by Chris Dutch

• New Monrovia Community Center 5851 SE Community Drive, Stuart Quilt by artist Stephanie Kimura

• County Administration Building/Commission Chambers 2401 SE Monterey Rd , Stuart Photography exhibit by Amy Knootz Knippel

• Halpatiokee Regional Park 7645 SE Lost River Road, Stuart: native animal mosaics by Jessica Gorlin-Liddell located near each refreshment stand, and Wind Games by May & Watkins Design

• House of Refuge 301 SE Mac Arthur Boulevard, Stuart Artistic gate created by George Goddard

Open Calls to Artists

Click on the Calls to Artists page for the latest calls