Wowhaus selected to design Pendleton sculptures

A design review committee has selected Wowhaus Studios of Sebastapol, Calif. as its finalist to design the sculptural elements that will be installed as part of ArtWorks' Pendleton Public Art Project.

Seventy-seven interested firms submitted applications through a request for qualifications process launched late last year. Five semi-finalists were selected in late January.

The project is meant to enhance the neighborhood's recent streetscape improvements and will emphasize creative placemaking on its newly-developed plazas and at some of Pendleton's key intersections.

Over the next three months, the community will have an opportunity to help inform the design of the work. A final design will be revealed this June or July, and installation will begin in early fall.

Funding for the $215,000 Pendleton Public Art Project comes from the City of Cincinnati, a National Endowment for the Arts Our Town grant, and the Greater Cincinnati Foundation.


Fundraising at 50% of goal

Also last week, ArtWorks announced that only two weeks after launching its 2013 Adopt-an-Apprentice Campaign, it is alreadyhalfway to its $105,000 fundraising goal.

The campaign will allow the nonprofit to hire 120 teen apprentices, ages 14 to 21, to work on 10 new community murals and other creative projects this summer.

And for the first time, ArtWorks will modify its SpringBoard business planning curriculum to teach a select group of apprentices the core concepts of operating an entrepreneurial and sustainable business.

"This year ArtWorks seeks to hire Apprentices to paint more murals in Cincinnati neighborhoods and offer new community projects for local youth to take part in," ArtWorks CEO and Artistic Director Tamara Harkavy said in a prepared release. "It's a unique job that benefits the entire city; Apprentices gain valuable job skills as our region transforms before our eyes. Meeting our Adopt-an-Apprentice Campaign goal will allow us to continue to employ local youth and make a lasting impact on our city."

Photo of "Wishing Wands" in San Jose, Calif. courtesy of Wowhaus

Previous reading on BC:
Finalists chosen for Pendleton public art project (2/4/13)
ArtWorks poring over 77 submissions for Pendleton public art project (12/20/12)
ArtWorks accepting applications for sculptural bike rack program (12/19/12)
Pendleton enforcement blitz reduces blight and crime, promotes redevelopment (11/20/12)
ArtWorks seeking mural sites for 2013 (11/20/12)