City of Reidsville Press Release – December 19, 2014
Council approves Downtown Project Artist
The Reidsville City Council has approved the selection of Jim Gallucci of Greensboro as the artist for the downtown roundabout art project.
Gallucci and his artistic concept will be introduced to the public during a “Meet the Artist” reception on Thursday, January 8, 2015, from 5-7 p.m. at Café 99 in downtown Reidsville.
In a special meeting this morning, the Council heard from City Manager Michael Pearce about the process he used to determine the selection of Gallucci. The artist was then introduced to the Council and presented his concept for the downtown sculpture.
Council had directed Pearce following a February 2014 retreat to start the process to get a new sculpture for the roundabout, after the car accident in 2011 that toppled the Confederate Soldier that had stood in the intersection for over 100 years. A Call for Artists went out over various art list serves beginning August 29. Within a month’s time, the City had received 51 applications from artists from across the country, including three from North Carolina.
Pearce was aided by an artist selection committee comprised of Tilda Balsley, Barbara DeJournette, Pat Harden, Calvert Smith, Rochelle Tucker, Ginger Waynick and Robert Wickless, who viewed some 500 images and narrowed the applications down to four finalists. Those four finalists were interviewed by Pearce, the committee and their advisor David Finn, an art professor at Wake Forest University.
Gallucci, who has been making art for over 40 years, was the unanimous selection of the committee.
Gallucci’s concept for the roundabout sculpture begins at the old monument base, which holds a 30-inch tall concrete star symbolizing the City’s Reidsville’s “All-America City” status in 2008. The base will also protect the sculpture if it is hit by oncoming traffic. The stainless steel sculpture rises up to where leaves and a bud form represent a new beginning and growth in our City. The stainless steel also pays homage to the Art Deco styles found in the City, including the nearby City Hall building. The sculpture will incorporate LED lighting, which will allow the artwork to be seen at night and can also be changed out to show different colors during different seasons of the year. The total height of the sculpture will be between 15-18 feet.
Committee member Rochelle Tucker told Council what attracted her to the sculpture was the concept of hope it conveys, beginning with the “All-America City” star at the base. The City received that distinction in 2008 by pulling together, and she envisions this sculpture can be a unifying opportunity for the City as well.
The artist, committee members and Council members all liked that the sculpture gives a nod to the area’s agricultural past while looking to a future filled with hope and life.
With the artist approved by Council, the City will hold the public reception January 8, 2015 to allow residents to meet Gallucci and see the model first hand. The committee will continue to oversee the final design, construction, delivery and installation of the sculpture. No timetable has yet been established, but both the City and the artist hope to have the sculpture installed sometime in 2015.
The City set aside $30,000 for the sculpture, which was graciously matched by a $30,000 contribution by the Reidsville Area Foundation. Gallucci estimates the sculpture’s design and installation can be done within that budget.