Three large outdoor sculptures are now on display at the Fairbanks campus in Springfield's Grant Beach neighborhood as part of a new partnership between the Drew Lewis Foundation and Sculpture Walk Springfield.
The organizations announced the installation Sept. 23, according to a community announcement. The project was made possible with support from the Springfield Regional Arts Council and marks the first phase of what the groups said they expect to be a long-term collaboration.
The new installation expands Sculpture Walk Springfield's effort to place public art in neighborhoods across the city. Three pieces from the organization's Fall Curated Collection have been installed on the Fairbanks campus at 1126 N. Broadway ahead of the Fairbanks Fall Festival.
The collection features large-scale works by Texas artist Jeffie Brewer, whose sculptures have been exhibited internationally.
In addition to the Grant Beach installation, Sculpture Walk Springfield placed five sculptures along the Boonville corridor between downtown Springfield and Commercial Street. According to the announcement, the effort is intended to broaden access to public art in more parts of the city.
"This is an effort SWS has been eager to make happen for a while. The programs offered at the Fairbanks campus enrich the lives of so many, and we're excited to be included among programs of that caliber," Executive Director Bridget Bechtel said in the announcement.
The Fairbanks campus already features arts and community programming, and the new sculptures add another public-facing element to the site. The Drew Lewis Foundation and Sculpture Walk Springfield said in the announcement that they plan to continue bringing new installations to the campus annually.
Residents will have an opportunity to view the sculptures during the Fairbanks Fall Festival, scheduled for Sept. 25 from 5-7 p.m. The free event will include dinner, ice cream, a bounce house and other activities, according to the announcement.
New partnership brings public art to Grant Beach
The installation represents the first collaboration between the Drew Lewis Foundation and Sculpture Walk Springfield.
According to the announcement, the partnership expands Sculpture Walk Springfield's "Access to All" mission into the Grant Beach neighborhood while creating a new location for rotating public art displays.
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This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: New public art partnership expands Sculpture Walk in Springfield
