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Public art project flagged for 3-mile stretch

'Ribbons' public art project proposed for Newtown Pike

By Beverly Fortune bfortune@herald-leader.com

A major public art project has been proposed to brighten 3 miles of Newtown Pike with more than 250,000 small green and blue utility flags set out in a pattern of long ribbons curling along the road.

The "Ribbons" project would swing back and forth across Newtown Pike, starting at Interstate 75 and terminating on West Main Street.

The art project would be installed a few days before the start of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games on Sept. 25 and be taken down soon after the games end on Oct. 10.

Landscape architect Mark Arnold said the idea grew out of temporary projects by artists Christo and Jeane-Claude, who are known for their large-scale temporary projects like surrounding 11 islands in Miami's Biscayne Bay with 603,850 square meters of floating pink polypropylene fabric. Another time the duo wrapped the Pont-Neuf bridge in Paris with 40,000 square meters of silky, golden fabric. Each of those projects were up for two weeks and then taken down.

The idea to beautify Newtown Pike originated with 5th District Councilwoman Cheryl Feigel, who also chairs the Corridors Committee. One goal of the committee is to beautify major streets leading into the city.

With Newtown Pike being a gateway into the city, Feigel said she was looking for a way to "dress it up" in time for the Games.

At the Corridors Committee meeting Tuesday, Feigel will present the "Ribbons" project and ask the committee for a resolution of support.

The project would not require approval by the Urban County Council, she said, because no city funds would be involved.

Arnold and architect Graham Pohl collaborated to come up with the concept. "The idea is the flags would become a string to tie together the horse farms and the horse park with downtown," Arnold said.

Jim Clark, CEO of LexArts, said the flags will emphasize how the Central Kentucky landscape undulates.

"Every time the wind blows or a truck goes by, they would become active," he said. "It is temporary and would add color and movement in a very simple way." He called "Ribbons" a "very clever idea."

Arnold said the estimated cost for 300,000 flags produced in the United Stateswould be $15,000, with an additional $4,000 for incidentals including refreshments for the 200 to 300 volunteers that will be required to put up and take down the flags.

Mayor Jim Newberry was approached about the idea several months ago. "He seemed pretty excited," Arnold said. "I was pretty happy about his reaction."

Shaye Raybold, the mayor's chief of staff, said Newberry was "generally supportive," but there is no money in the city budget for public art. However, Newberry said he would help Feigel identify sponsors to underwrite the costs.

The project falls within the 3-mile "clean zone" radius around the Kentucky Horse Park, site of the Games. City attorneys are reviewing the clean zone ordinance to see whether it would need to be amended to allow the art installation, said Jamie Bloyd, Feigel's legislative aid.

Jamie Link, CEO of the World Equestrian Games, said in a statement, "City official shared this plan with us and we certainly have no objection to the city's beautification efforts during the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games."

Because Newtown Pike is a state road, the city must submit a request to the Kentucky highways department for an encroachment permit, said Natasha Lacey, spokeswoman for the District 7 office in Lexington.

Asked if he anticipated vandalism being a major problem, Arnold said he did not. "It's going to be on a very visible corridor. Anybody out there doing vandalism will be seen," he said.

After the installation, the flags would be recycled, either bundled and provided to utility companies across the state, or stored and reused. "But definitely they are not going to be thrown away," Arnold said.

If the project goes forward, groups of volunteers like scouting troops and neighborhood associations will be needed to help install the flags, Arnold said. Individuals interested in more information can call Feigel's office at (859) 425-2283.