Asheville Downtown Association announces public art project for Lexington Avenue

Press release from Asheville Downtown Association:

In partnership with the City of Asheville and the Public Art & Culture Commission, the Asheville Downtown Association Foundation is pleased to announce a new public art project on Lexington Avenue. The installation will recognize the vision of many local leaders whose foresight made Lexington Avenue One of America’s Great Places (American Planning Association 2015). This honor was bestowed on Lexington Avenue because it is a “is a funky, creative, and delightfully unexpected home to a bustling music and arts scene that plays a crucial role in supporting Asheville’s economy.”

The American Planning Association goes on to say, “Lexington Avenue offers a pedestrian atmosphere within the bustling downtown Asheville setting. Numerous shops and restaurants, combined with galleries and other uses, make Lexington a destination street nestled between the busy thoroughfares of Broadway and College Street. The city has also worked to incorporate bike lanes and on-street parking into the existing right-of-way, and added street trees, benches, and details like planters and lighting fixtures to amplify the avenue’s character.”

The public art process for a ‘call to artists’ will be released this fall. This process includes a request for artist qualifications, a review and selection by a jury team comprised of Public Art & Culture Commission, Lexington Avenue businesses, local artists, etc. Once the top three artists/artists teams are chosen, several public receptions will be scheduled. The first will include a meet and greet with potential artists, review of prior work and an opportunity to share ideas about the new artwork. Then, a future public reception will be held to review the submissions and vote. Once a design is selected, the artist will have the winter to fabricate the piece with installation occurring in spring of 2017.

Anne Lantzius Strauss is a New York-based art curator and member of the committee formed to commission the public art project. “My aunt Dawn Lantzius (a lifelong Asheville resident), my sister Susan Rich, who lives in Los Angeles, and I are honored to participate in and support this exciting endeavor,” Strauss said. “Our family, led by the late John Lantzius, along with a number of like-minded downtown-focused partisans, have together believed in and championed the promise and potential of North Lexington Avenue over the past decades. Its unique and distinctive character will be celebrated with the public artwork.”

Sharon Trammel serves as Chair of the Fine and Performing Art Department for A-B Tech Community College, is a member of the Public Art & Cultural Commission and former owner of a decorative glass and lighting studio on the corner of Lexington Avenue and Walnut. “What I remember most was a core of hard-working people trying to bring back a city that had essentially died when the mall opened,” Trammel said. “We were all inspired by John Lantzius’ dream and today with the recognition that Lexington Avenue has achieved the status of One of America’s Great Places is something I am proud to say we all played a part.”

Other donors include David Brown (Brown Properties), Wayne Caldwell (Sluder Furniture), Bob and Ellen Carr (Tops for Shoes), Franzi Charen (Hip Replacements), Jim Daniels (The Daniels Group), Mike Healy (Lexington Avenue Brewery), Jennifer and Jim Lauzon (LaZoom Tours) and Tom and Madelyn Leslie (Leslie & Associates).

The Asheville Downtown Association Foundation has already raised over $30,000 and is accepting additional tax-deductible donations. Please contact Adrian Vassallo at adrian@ashevilledowntown.org.

The Asheville Downtown Association Foundation is 501(c)(3) nonprofit association organized to support and promote activities, projects and programs that support the livability, arts and culture, economy, safety and infrastructure of Downtown Asheville.