Madeline Wiener Sculpture

Public art adorns Ocean Springs

OCEAN SPRINGS -- A small group of business and professional people is quietly filling the public spaces around Ocean Springs with expensive, provocative sculpture.

The Public Arts Project of Ocean Springs has succeeded in raising money for four pieces and has one to go before it fulfills its mission. There's a large Colorado marble piece called "Wise One" at the entrance to the Public Library.

Rotating concentric circles of metal and fabric dance above the children at the Little Children's Park and three newly installed pieces of vibrant orange glass sculpture from Russia reflect phenomenal color as the light changes in the Depot festival plaza downtown.

A smaller, but no-less valuable, metal sculpture of wildflowers by an Ocean Springs artist is under glass at the Mary C. O'Keefe Arts and Cultural Center. They are well-researched purchases, brought in to inspire the art community and add to the quality of life in a city that values its outdoor spaces, whether it's an historic park or an intricately landscaped front beach.

Investment in the city

The project is an investment in Ocean Springs, said Melanie Allen, one of five who put the project together a year before Katrina. "The initial thought was to have 100 members pay $100 each year for five years, giving us $10,000 a year to spend on sculpture," said Herb Moore, also one of the five with the project.

Katrina set them back, but not for long -- it's been six years and four pieces are standing around town.
"We've gone over budget every year. You can certainly say that the sculptures have exceeded $15,000 each," Moore said. "But we've had people come forward to help, with checks. And the city has been kind to install it all, which is a real expense."

The group has donated all the pieces to the city and the Public Works crews have handled the installation. The large outdoor pieces are key.

"We wanted to do as many outdoors as possible," Moore said. "With our tourists, we could have a sculpture walk, through the city, past the retail businesses and restaurants, kind of a promotion for the whole city, not just the arts."

Mayor Connie Moran calls it refreshing to have a group of private citizens with a vision, raising money and partnering with the city. The city used a grant to help pay for the fourth piece.

Moran is planning a walking tour that stops at the four Public Art Project pieces, a bronze statue at Maurepas park by a Canadian sculptor and a 120-foot mosaic -- the state's largest -- at the foot of the Biloxi Bay Bridge.

Thought through

The people behind the Public Art Project have decades of experience in art collecting, spacial design and promotions.

Sharon McQuilkin alone has 40 years in art sales and management.

Her husband's piece was the first selected, but she said that was before she got on the board.

Since then, the pieces she has located for her fellow project members to consider bring in new ideas and fresh mediums to inspire and awe.

"A blog has criticized us for picking pieces of art from an artist in Europe," Allen said. "It was our first that wasn't from the U.S. and two of the four pieces are from people who have ties to Ocean Springs.

"You can't please everyone," she said. "That's part of being brave enough to be on a committee to choose public art. One of the challenges is to progress the pallet of everyone in the community. Some pieces are controversial."

The five-member committee meets when it needs to, said Jean Griffies, also a member.

"We sent out letters explaining what we wanted to do and asking for a five-year commitment," Griffies said. "But anyone else who wants to contribute, we'd love it. The more the better."

Bringing in exciting art

"We've been well-received," Griffies said. "It's been quite an accomplishment for Ocean Springs. It's brought some exciting art to the area." There are few expenses. All the money goes to the artwork, said Allen, every penny.

"All those hours of looking for artwork and researching and determining installation, thousands of hours from the committee, are donated," Allen said. "And we're happy to do it."