The Public Art Committee recently announced the winner of the People’s Choice Award for its outdoor sculpture exhibition, Something New.

The project brought three pieces to Bainbridge Island’s downtown corridor in 2018. Of the three, “Iris Flare” by Lin McJunkin and Milo White received the most votes for the award.

The artists will be honored at an official award ceremony on Friday, June 7, just prior to the First Friday Art Walk, which begins at 6 p.m. The event will take place along Winslow Way, near the winning piece.

Attendees will be addressed by McJunkin and by representatives of the Public Art Committee. Additionally, the $1,000 People’s Choice Award honorarium will be presented at the event.

“Iris Flare” sits just outside of Town & Country Market at the corner of Winslow Way and Ericksen Avenue. According to the Public Art Committee, “Its distinctive purple steel and green glass greet both islanders and visitors traveling up and down Bainbridge Island’s main street.”

The piece will remain in its current location until June 7. The duo of metal sculptor White and glass artist McJunkin have collaborated on many pieces of outdoor public work that can be seen around the Pacific Northwest.

Something New aims to provide both a dynamic public art experience and an ongoing opportunity for sculptors from around the Pacific Northwest to exhibit their work. Each year, the project brings a collection of sculptures on loan to three outdoor sites around Winslow. The infrastructure at each site is permanent. However, the artwork on display is not. After each yearlong exhibition, new art is selected and rotated into place, bringing “something new” to Bainbridge Island year after year.

“Iris Flare” will remain available for purchase until it is removed from its downtown location, as does “Three Color Spires” by Gerry Newcomb.

The former is valued at $5,000; the latter, located in the harborside plaza at the southern end of Madison Avenue, Is $6,000.

Contact Arts & Humanities Bainbridge at 206-842-7901 or at admin@ahbainbridge.org to learn more.

The third sculpture from the inaugural year of Something New, “Hand in Hand” by Will Robinson, was recently acquired by the City of Bainbridge Island and will remain in its location in Waterfront Park.

New works will be installed at the sites in July.