At our June meeting, Friends of Patterson Park was asked to support the donation of a significant piece of art to the park later this year and a community music festival planned for the fall. An online vote was held in July, and 49 out of 150 FoPP members participated, with heavy support for both measures.
Visual artist Jennifer Chenoweth of Fisterra Studio and the Austin Parks and Recreation Department have proposed the permanent donation of her kinetic sculpture, Dance of the Cosmos, to Patterson Park. The piece is currently on loan to the Elizabeth Ney Museum in Hyde Park.
Photo credit: Michelle Atkinson
Chenoweth earned her MFA in 1996, serves on the Austin Arts Commission, is a resident of East Austin, and has been an active member of the local arts community for 20 years. Her sculpture Dance of the Cosmos was inspired by Robert Putchiks Emotional Windows study and a Tibetan lotus mandala. It is part of the XYZ Atlas, a Hedonic Map of Austin, an interactive public art about our collective experiences.
The sculpture has a footprint of 20 feet and is 8 feet tall when the lotus flower is closed. The artist plans to pursue grant funding for both the move and long-term maintenance of the piece. The donation was approved by FoPP with 88% of the vote.
Cherrywood-based musicians are organizing the CherryWoodstock music festival, planned for Saturday, September 17th, 2016 in Patterson Park. This will be an alcohol-free event and amplified sound will be permitted from 12 noon – 6 pm. It is intended to be a family-friendly event that builds community and celebrates our corner of the city. The festival was approved by FoPP with 100% of the vote.
FoPP will submit formal letters of support to support permitting and grant applications by the organizers and artist. The Cherrywood and Wilshire Wood Neighborhood Associations will also be asked to support these items at their August meetings. Schieffer-Willowbrook voted in favor of supporting both at their June meeting.
CNA will meet on Wednesday, August 17 at Servant Church and WW/D1NA will meet Tuesday, August 23 . If all the stakeholders support the art donation, then Chenoweth will conduct further community outreach and pursue funding to maintain the sculpture once it is relocated. For more information, email fopp.atx@gmail.com or cherrywoodstock@gmail.com.
Friends of Patterson Park 