Film at Brooks Museum

Sunday, December 6 | 2 pm
Film: Downside Up

Can art make a difference? How can it impact an individual, a community, a city? With the majority of its downtown deserted, many people had given up on North Adams, Massachusetts, until MASS MoCA (Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art) located there and breathed life back into the community.

The Brooks Museum collaborates with the Urban Art Commission to present this moving documentary about how art can bring the tentative, dangerous notion of hope to a city widely viewed as hopeless. Afterwards, lend your voice to a discussion on the arts in Memphis, and whether you think art matters in your community.

Dalstrom Park Dedication Event

Date: Saturday, December 5, 2009
Time: 11:00am
Location: Dalstrom Park - Shelby Drive & Weaver Road - Shelby Drive Entrance

UrbanArt is hosting a dedication of the completion of the Dalstrom Park public art project. The ceremony will take place at the Shelby Drive entrance of Dalstrom Park, at the trailhead to the right of the park. Both Mayor Wharton and Councilman Edmund Ford, Jr., will speak at the event.

Dalstrom Park’s public art is a City of Memphis Percent-for-Art project and was a part of the Division of Park Services project to add amenities such as playgrounds, pavilions and picnic areas to Dalstrom Park. Local Artist Suzy Hendrix created artwork to both compliment and contrast the natural setting of the park.

Dalstrom Park

These pieces by Suzy Hendrix are currently being installed in Dalstrom Park at Shelby Drive and Weaver Road in southwest Memphis.

Chickasaw Heritage Park

Chickasaw Heritage Park will be home to a new walking trail, courtesy of the Riverfront Development Corporation (RDC). UrbanArt is seeking an artist to create an enhancement that will reflect the rich history of the area. The enhancement should feel like an integral part of the park, expressing the quiet, safe environment that residents of the nearby French Fort and visitors to the adjacent the National Ornamental Metal Museum use to relax and view the Mississippi River.

The deadline for this project is 4:00 PM, Wednesday, July 17. The budget is $85,000, and it is open to US artists. For the full RFQ, visit urbanartcommission.org. Contact Elizabeth Alley, Director of Public Art, with any questions: 901-454-0474, ealley@urbanartcommission.org.

Repair to Trolley Station

Lea Holland, Marlin Eddinger and the gang installing the mosaic today at 3rd Street Station, part of MATA's Madison Avenue Trolley Line.

Advocacy

Dear UrbanArt Supporter,

Thank you for your continued support of the UrbanArt Commission's work in the community. Your advocacy is making a difference! UrbanArt's Executive Director joined the Engineering Division in presenting their budget to the City Council Operations and Maintenance committee on Monday night. While the vote was postponed until Tuesday 16 June due to the request for more information about the Engineering budget, UrbanArt was well received. This is largely due to your efforts in communicating the importance of public art to our city. The Council members now have a richer understanding that this program matters to the citizens it represents, and that could not have been achieved without you!

We shall correspond with you as developments progress toward the budget wrap up process at the end of this month.

Be Well,

John Weeden, Executive Director
UrbanArt Commission

Central High - Interior Site with Measurements

The total area measures approximately 688 square feet. Click on the images to see them larger.