Published: November 26, 2009 07:21 pm      

Sculptors announced for first phase of Bicentennial Art Project

Twenty sculptures to be placed downtown through 2013

The New Albany Bicentennial Public Art Project has artists for the first leg of its venture that will bring 20 temporary sculptures to the downtown historic district between 2010 and 2013.

The first five sculptures are to be based on the Ohio River’s impact on New Albany, and will be placed in 2010. Each year leading up to the New Albany Bicentennial, five new works will be added at various downtown locations.

The project is a joint effort of the Carnegie Center for Art and History and the New Albany Urban Enterprise Association. Major funding for the effort was provided by the Horseshoe Foundation of Floyd County.

The following artists were selected to build those pieces:

• Valerie Sullivan Fuchs: She’s a video artist from Shelbyville, Ky. Her work will be titled “Flood,” and will feature a large-scale video projection of the ebb and flow of the Ohio River reflected on the wall of the downtown Floyd County chapter of the YMCA of Southern Indiana.

• John King: King is a sculptor from Louisville who specializes in glass art. He founded the music label “Louisville is for Lovers,” which produced work for the Louisville band My Morning Jacket. For the New Albany project, King will use recycled glass from the city to create sculptures representing New Albany’s historical glass background. The works will be displayed at River City Winery.

• Brad White: He’s also a sculptor from Louisville who has focused on bronze pieces during his career. He studied at Murray State University, and his work for the Bicentennial project will incorporate the 19th Century struggle over slavery through a large steel sculpture that will embrace New Albany’s history with the Underground Railroad effort.

• J. Daniel Graham: Graham is a sculptor and printmaker from Georgetown, Ky. He will be creating a 3-D visual narrative depicting historical images from the area. The work will be installed in the garden area of St. Marks Church.

• Leticia Bajuyo: Bajuyo is a sculptor and installation artist from Madison and an associate professor of art at Hanover College. She uses untraditional materials like CDs and cable ties for her work, and her focus for the project will be to celebrate the historic breweries of the area. Her rendering will be located at the New Albanian Brewing Co.’s Bank Street Brewhouse location.