‘Something New’ coming to downtown via public art initiative

Three pedestals in downtown Winslow are at last slated to hoist heavenward works of sculpture hand-picked by the Public Art Committee and Arts & Humanities Bainbridge in June, part of a new rotating public art initiative called “Something New,” which has been in the works for more than a year.

According to documents from the city of Bainbridge Island, in February 2017 the Public Art Committee, a subcommittee of Arts & Humanities Bainbridge, first presented the city council with the proposal for the new project, which involves installing three plinths (or bases) in the downtown Winslow area to be used to display a rotating selection of artwork on a one-year cycle.

Last September, the city council approved $26,000 of funding from the city’s Public Art Fund to support a one-year pilot of the project, which will see the first round of art unveiled next month.

The three pieces selected, via a juried process, by the Public Art Committee include works by Lin McJunkin (“Irish Flare”), Gerry Newcomb (“Color Spires”) and William Robinson (“Hand in Hand”).

The bases are located along Winslow Way near the intersection with Ericksen Avenue; in Waterfront Park; and in the harbor-side plaza at the southern end of Madison Avenue.

The concrete pedestals installed at each of those sites will be permanent.

A call for a second round of work is expected in early 2019, with installation of the chosen pieces taking place in June.

Initial construction expenses were, according to the city, $13,200, with an additional $12,080 accrued in expenses by Arts & Humanities Bainbridge and the Public Art Committee ($25,280 total).

Arts & Humanities Bainbridge and the Public Art Committee expect to expand the program annually, Arts & Humanities Bainbridge officials said, adding that the program will provide both a dynamic public art experience and an ongoing opportunity for sculptors from around the Pacific Northwest to exhibit their work.

For more information, visit www.ahbainbridge.org.