Proposed Art for Peachtree Hills Park

Jennifer Freeman is proposing to install one of her original pieces of art in the Peachtree Hills Park. 

Below is her proposal 

 
“Seasons”

A Mosaic Sculpture Proposed for Peachtree Hills Park

Jennifer Freeman

SCULPTURAL FORM

As a Neighborhood Gateway finalist, I am submitting a proposal for a mosaic sculpture to be displayed in Peachtree Hills Park in the grassy area in front of the gymnasium (toward the right side of the building). The piece would consist of two cantilevered philanges (sorry, I couldn’t figure out what else to call them), to be covered in total with mosaic images. (See Visual I).

The artwork would stand approximately nine feet high, and would be approximately five feet in diameter, with a cement base extending another eight inches. The substrate for the actual mosaic would consist of “cast in place concrete” to be fabricated by Timothy Minick of O.L.S.I. who has done work in this capacity before.

MOSAIC
Although the shape of the substrate is important and aesthetically pleasing, it is the mosaic which will ultimately define the work. After many meetings and conversations with members of the Peachtree Hills community, in addition to research of my own, I have sought to do two things with the design of my mosaic:

1) To chronicle the "history” of the Peachtree Hills area as it has changed over time from farmland to a “country
retreat for Atlantans”, to streetcar community, to Atlanta bedroom community. Although there certainly have been continuing changes in the area that is now serviced by the Lindbergh MARTA Station and flanked by significant new
development, the neighborhood is still defined by its Craftsman style bungalows, and a wonderful Mockette of three dimensional mosaic Mosaic “blow-up” of a segment of the actual proposed drawing sense of community and pride. In the proposed mosaic, Peachtree Hills’ history-- from its early days to the present-- is threaded through a concurrent theme of the changing of the seasons. (See Visuals below).

The second goal I am trying to achieve
with my design is to “keep it whimsical
and fun”. People I spoke with in the
community stressed that they don’t want
“corporate art”, but rather something in a
lighter vein. This I have tried to do, both
with color and composition, as well as
proposed materials. Materials will include
such varied tesserae as porcelain tiles,
stained glass, broken dishes, mirror, and
rocks. I have found that use of a wide
range of materials adds to the interest of
the mosaic, both in the making and the
viewing.

PROCESS
It is anticipated that the making of the
mosaic will be a collaborative project,
involving many members of the Peachtree
Hills community. The Covenant
Presbyterian Church has graciously
agreed to let us set up a work space in the
Church, which will make the project
accessible to all. I am willing to schedule
weekend and/or evening sessions (in
addition to weekdays) to accommodate
those who wish to work on the mosaic
who cannot make the daytime sessions. In
my experience, this kind of community
involvement significantly enhances the
“value” of the finished project. All those
involved take ownership and pride in the
work, and love to share the fruits of their
labor.
Posterboard renderings of the faces of the
mosaic sculpture identifying specific
Peachtree Hills landmarks and seasonal
references

PEACHTREE HILLS INVOLVEMENT TO THIS POINT

I would like to mention that the community of Peachtree Hills has been very involved,
supportive and excited about this project. I have met with the president of the
neighborhood association, active members of the neighborhood involved with many
aspects of beautification of the park, people who have come (on a rainy, cold Sunday
afternoon) specifically to talk about this project, and people who have invited me into
their homes to share my thoughts and to get theirs. I have spoken by phone with
residents of the neighborhood who have spent their entire lives in Peachtree Hills. In
addition, I have “roamed the neighborhood” and its surrounds at length, to get a feel and
understanding of what is there. I would be delighted at the prospect of working with
members of this community to produce a lasting mosaic for their park.

I hope you enjoyed this article. 

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