Carla Branch
alexandrianews.org
On Wed., March 30, alexandrianews.org broke the news that four final art projects were under consideration as public art at the Washington Headquarters Services facility at Mark Center. The $600,000 project got instant reaction from the public and from Virginia Congressman Jim Moran who is a member of the House Appopriations committee.
"I consider myself one of the strongest supporters of the Arts. But at a time when we are fighting to prevent the traffic nightmare the Mark Center poses for Department of Defense employees, local residents, and all commuters on I-395, this is a very questionable way to spend $600,000. It would seem that money could be much more appropriately used to improve transportation infrastructure around the site, rather than to depict a children’s fairy tale, ” Moran said.
A fairy riding a toad is part of Cheryl Foster's proposal. (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.