The Gainesville Cultural Affairs Division is inviting residents to help select the artist for the Gainesville Police Department Public Art Project by reviewing proposals from three finalists and providing public feedback through July 31.
Community members can view the finalists’ proposals online or attend a public poster exhibition at the A. Quinn Jones Museum & Cultural Center, where the submissions will be on display from July 17 through July 31.
An opening reception for the exhibition is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, July 17, at the museum, located at 1013 NW Seventh Ave. The free event is open to the public and will allow attendees to learn about each artist’s vision and share comments that will help inform the final selection process.
Following the reception, the exhibition will remain on display through July 31. The A. Quinn Jones Museum & Cultural Center is open from 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and by appointment.
Earlier this year, the city issued a call for artists to design a 5-foot-by-10-foot public artwork for a section of fencing between the new Gainesville Police Department Property and Evidence Building on NW 6th Street and the adjacent Rails-to-Trails multiuse pathway. Artists were asked to develop proposals that integrate artistic design with functional infrastructure while reflecting the history, character and values of the Gainesville community.
Public comments submitted online and during the exhibition will be reviewed by the Art in Public Places Trust as part of the final artist selection process.
The project is part of the city’s Art in Public Places program, which emphasizes community participation in the development of public art. According to the city, the Gainesville Police Department Public Art Project reflects its ongoing commitment to integrating art into public spaces while celebrating the community’s history, identity and creativity.