Bentonville to get more public art

BENTONVILLE — The City Council approved two more art pieces Tuesday to be displayed on public property, one of which will be temporary and the other installed by a developer.

The Public Art Policy requires art proposed to be displayed on public property be approved by the Public Art Advisory Committee and City Council.

Council members approved 7-0 both pieces. Alderman Chris Sooter was absent. The advisory committee approved the pieces Aug. 9, according to meeting documents.

Truth Booth by Hank Willis Thomas and the Cause Collective will be displayed at Lawrence Plaza on Oct. 4-5.

The art is a 14-foot inflatable word balloon that reads “TRUTH.” Members of the public are encouraged to enter it and take two minutes to share their idea of truth on a recording, according to the proposal.

“We aim to represent and celebrate the world’s diverse people, cultures, and locations and capture as many definitions, representations, confessions, and thoughts on ‘the truth’ as possible,” the proposal reads.

It was launched at the Galway Arts Festival in Ireland in 2011, according to the project’s website, www. insearchofthetruth.net. The Truth Booth then traveled to various sites around Ireland,

gaining more than 2,000 video responses from the public.

It has since toured in several countries, including Afghanistan, South Africa and the United States.

The project is on a 50-state tour prior to the presidential election, according to meeting documents.

There wasn’t any discussion about the art at Tuesday’s meeting, but Alderman Bill Burckart asked a few questions about the piece at the Committee of the Whole meeting Monday.

He expressed curiosity about how the information recorded in the booth would be used, if it’s going to be given to other sources or for research.

“I just don’t know what they’re going to do with the data. I’m just curious,” he said.

Shelli Kerr, planning services manager, emailed council members Tuesday morning informing them the “video footage will be compiled and edited into a video then published on the project website.”

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and Visit Bentonville are paying the $10,000 cost. There is no city money being used, according to meeting documents.

The second piece of art approved Tuesday was Triumph, a permanent piece that will be on the roundabout at the intersection of Southwest F Street and Southwest Ranch Road.

It was designed by Arkansas sculptor Hunter Brown, who has pieces displayed throughout the country, including Austin, Texas; Baltimore, Md.; and Chicago.

It will serve as an entrance feature into the multifamily development known as the Pointe at Bentonville, which is being built south of Southwest Regional Airport Boulevard and east of the Bentonville Community Center.

Keith Richardson Development

of the Pointe at Bentonville will pay for the purchase, installation and maintenance of the piece, which is estimated to cost $90,000, according to meeting documents.

The piece is a stainless steel sculpture that weighs 2,500 pounds, stands 20 feet tall and has a 9-foot diameter. It will consist of stamped concrete, landscaping and electricity for landscape lighting.

It ‘s composed of twisting, linear and geometric forms, according to the proposal.

“Although each form is minimal in nature by itself, the interaction between these forms along with free movement through space manifest a graceful and unified masterpiece with the sole intent of visually stimulating the viewer while enhancing its environment,” the proposal reads.

It’s expected to be installed by mid-November.

This is the first time a developer has requested to install a piece on public property, according to Kerr.