By Carla Branch
alexandrianews.org

A fairy riding a toad is part of Cheryl Foster's proposal. (Courtesy Image)

Anyone who is interested in seeing the four proposed public art finalists for the Washington Headquarters Services facility at Mark Center can view them at the William Ramsay Recreation Center through tomorrow. One of them will be selected and built at a cost of $600,000. It will be displayed on the WHS campus, possibly at the bus stop.

Don Buch is a member of the BRAC Advisory Group. “I have attended every meeting of the Mayor’s BRAC Advisory Group since it was formed more than two years ago.  I believe the last material briefing about public art was a year ago at which time only the broadest of overviews was provided,” Buch said. “It was my understanding, and I believe that of many others, that public art was really no one’s immediate priority and it would essentially be held in abeyance until the BRAC buildings were completed and operational.  To now be advised that there is suddenly a short-list of four proposals, which will be on display at Ramsey Rec Center for a week and we need to hurry on over as we are now ‘on a fast time frame’ is troubling.

"Doppler" by Heidi Lippman. (Courtesy Image)

“Given its proposed location, who is the viewership likely to be?  It would seem the audience will be the same 40% of BRAC employees anticipated to use the shuttle busses, day -in and day- out, perhaps 2,500 people.  Apart from bus riders, who is likely to see the piece on any given day?  Is there nothing that might be done with $600,000 to reach a considerably broader audience,” Buch said.

"Virginia Magnolia" by Linda DePalma. (Courtesy Image)

The four proposals include: a three dimensional interpretation of Sweetbay Magnolia or Magnolia Virginiana; a functional, artistic bench that incorporates various geometric shapes such as a sphere, a cylinder and a cone; a 32-foot long glass wall, divided into nine panels; and a 10-foot high fairy using an American toad as transportation, with sounds of nature emanating from the toad’s throat.

Editors Note: It is not yet April Fool's Day.

Deirdre Saunder's proposed sculpture. (Courtesy Image)