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RELEASE
Leslie
Fry, Chosen as first artist-in-residence for Boca Ciega Millenium
Park in Seminole, Florida
Bird-women
in trees, a giant pine cone surfaced with hundreds of plaster
hands, cobweb ladders leading to imaginary oak tree communities
and mysterious figures propping up leaning trees these are all
visions that will become a reality along a 3/4 - mile trail at
a park in Pinellas County that protects 184.6 acres of native
flora and fauna.
Pinellas County Cultural Affairs awarded artist Leslie Fry a commission
to work with Boca Ciega Millennium Park to create a public project
that will raise awareness about the many treasures this nature
park has to offer.
By
March 3, 2007, timed to coincide with the park's Discovery Day
and Nature Festival, Fry will create six unique sculpture installations
along the West Loop boardwalk trail, which features different
natural environments and an observation tower. Park visitors will
be invited to search for the sculptures, which will be integrated
into the natural surroundings. The idea is that these art sightings
would create opportunities for discussion and reflection on the
preciousness and fragility of the surrounding natural life.
As stated in the artist's proposal, "These sculptures would represent imaginary beings that reflect and integrate two worlds
- the constructed world of cars, roads, buildings, jobs, computers,
stores, phones, and so forth that we humans live in, and the natural
world inhabited by the flora and fauna of Boca Ciega Millennium
Park."
Fry
will conduct sculpture workshops open to the public, and artist-led
walks along the trail to discuss the work. She also plans to make
a film that documents how the sculptures weather and change over
time - as the artist's intention is that the sculptures aren't
meant to last forever. There will also be a book documenting and
preserving the project, with photographs of the sculptures, along
with text by the artist and art writers concerned with environmental
issues.
Leslie
Fry's work has been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions in
museums and galleries throughout the United States and abroad,
including the Herbert F. Johnson Museum at Cornell University
in Ithaca, New York; the Tampa Museum of Art in Florida; Kunsthaus
in Hamburg, Germany; Centre des Arts Visuels in Montreal; Couvent
des Cordeliers in Paris; and Exit Art and Artists Space in New
York City. In addition, she has received public art commissions
from the Broward Public Art and Design Program in Fort Lauderdale;
Burlington City Arts in Vermont; Wave Hill in New York; and the
Musée d'Art Contemporain in Montreal. She has a B.A. from the
University of Vermont and an M.F.A. from the Milton Avery Graduate
School of the Arts at Bard College. She also attended the Central
School of Art and Design in London. She has been on the faculties
of the University of Vermont, St. Michael's College, Vermont College,
and New College of Florida.
About
her art she says: "My artworks are mostly hybrid forms that reflect
our interconnection with the natural world and the built world.
I often use traditional methods and materials - such as modeling
and casting - to achieve nontraditional results. Usually the site
is the inspiration for the art, and the choice of media follows.
The creation of sculptural landmarks to live in the eve- ryday
world - and within our imagination - is an inspirational challenge
in originating art for a public space."
Boca
Ciega Millennium Park is located at 12410 74th Ave. N (Old Oakhurst
Rd.), Seminole, FL 33772, (727) 588-4882. Open daily,
7 AM until dark.
http://www.pinellascounty.org/park/03_Boca_Ciega.htm
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