The Appleton Public Arts Committee met 03/05/2025. The one action item on their agenda was a request from Creative Downtown Appleton to install a selfie sculpture in Houdini Plaza. The committee voted unanimously to approve this request.
I’ve prepared a transcript of the discussion for download:
Jennifer Stephany, the executive director of Appleton Downtown Incorporated, explained that Appleton wanted to emulate other communities that have installed interactive sculptures such as Green Bay which has an “I Heart GB” sculpture and Sheboygan that has an interactive surfboard sculpture.
Appleton Downtown Inc was working with Lawrence University professor Rob Neilsen on a sculpture based around their One Great Place locator pin logo. The basic concept was that the sculpture will feature the words “One Great Place For…” and then on a series of colorful locator pins will include various things that can be enjoyed downtown such as Octoberfest, live music, unique shops, etc… The words and phrases on the push pins will be switched out periodically with new words. During the meeting, the committee and Ms. Stephany discussed the possibility of putting out a call to the public to submit words and phrases that could be placed on the locator pins.
They hoped to have the sculpture installed by 04/24/2025 which is the start of the NFL Draft. They were still figuring out what materials to make the words that would be placed on the locator pins because they needed to be removable, durable, and also aesthetically pleasing.
Ms. Stephany said that they hoped to have this sculpture stay in Houdini Plaza for many, many years but thought it wise to include the requirement of an annual review in their agreement with the city to make sure that the sculpture was being taken care of and continued to be visually and physically in good shape.
The committee voted unanimously to approve the request. The item will also go before the Parks and Recreation Committee for an additional vote before coming before the full Common Council full final approval.
View full meeting details and video here: https://cityofappleton.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1263777&GUID=1995164B-6F81-4D51-BBFB-0B267122C901
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