By David Slone
Times-Union

WARSAW — Another art project is coming to the city of Warsaw, and on Monday, May 6, the Warsaw Redevelopment Commission approved to contribute $21,500 toward it.

Warsaw Community and Economic Development Director Jeremy Skinner presented the contract between the commission and the Warsaw Public Art Commission.

“The Art Commission is working on a new piece of artwork that will be located somewhere in Central Park. And the intent here is for us to contribute to that art piece. I think they’re asking for $21,500. This will come out of Central TIF (tax increment financing) District,” he said.

A copy of the Creative Convergence Public Art Project agreement proposal states that artist Gail Christofferson of Animal House Glass will build the proposed public art project titled “Reflection” for public display. The sculpture will be made of pressure-treated lumber, steel fasteners and plates and Lexan panels. The sculpture will have a 10-foot by 10-foot footprint and be anchored to concrete footers.

It also states the artist will interact with Warsaw residents during public events to help assemble the colored Lexan pieces into a mosaic design.

Councilman Mike Klondaris asked if it was within the purview of the commission to contribute funds to art projects.

Skinner said it was “placemaking, which creates draw which creates the ability to get developments like the Owens Mill Works project, so, yeah, I think it’s definitely within our purview to do projects that are placemaking in the park area.”

He said he thought it was worth it and he wouldn’t have brought it before the Redevelopment Commission if he didn’t.

“I think it will be a great addition to what we have going on downtown and those art pieces,” Skinner said. “I would like to see a couple more of them, and I’ve expressed that to them. Not just here, but we’ve got a couple roundabouts I’d like to put some art pieces in.”

Commission member Joe Thallemer, former mayor, said, “Last year, the mayor’s public arts commission got invited to participate in this Creative Convergence program you see referenced on there, and we went down and it was all about art as an economic development tool. It was a two-day seminar.”

City Planner Justin Taylor said they received $10,000 and so far the Art Commission has raised about $23,000 for the public art project. The $10,000 from the state was specifically earmarked for the promotion of the public art.

“So all of those are basically marketing dollars for the events that will surround this art piece and the promotion of the arts in the community and in the region,” he said, adding that’s why they can’t use the $10,000 for the sculpture. “As we raise more money for the project, we were hoping that contribution from this board would actually help spur some of that as well.”

Thallemer said the project stemmed from that Creative Convergence seminar.

“Public art enhances walkability,” he said.

Skinner said he was a huge art fan and he wants to work on a couple other art projects that the commission can contribute toward.

Taylor said idea of placing the art piece near Central Park is that it’s great with placemaking and helps with navigating the park.

“Warsaw Public Arts Commission has been meeting since we did the Walk ‘N’ Wander sculptures 12 years ago. The public’s support, the financial support that the public gave to those two different sculpture exhibits led me to understand how important” public art is to the community, Thallemer said.

After listing the various sculptures around the city, Thallemer made a motion to approve the contribution, with Klondaris seconding the motion. The motion passed unanimously.