Earlier this summer, Riverside Avondale Preservation (RAP) and the Fishweir Crossing Roundabouts Planning Committee, made up of neighborhood volunteers, invited experienced artists to submit qualifications for a new public sculpture at the Fishweir Crossing Roundabouts on Herschel Street (READ HERE). Amongst the requisites were the ability to design sculptures appropriate to civic, transportation, and highly visible outdoor settings while meeting the criteria from Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).
The RFQ closed on June 30 with 49 artist submissions.
The committee narrowed down the 49 submissions to 15 semifinalists for a special Art Selection Panel to review and recommendation three finalists for the conceptual design phase, which includes a $2,500 paid stipend for each finalist.
The deadline for the finalists’ conceptual designs is September 15 at which point the concepts will be reviewed by the City of Jacksonville and FDOT, and suitable concepts will be shared with the community for input.
The Finalists
JIM BENEDICT & LILY KUONEN
Based: Jacksonville, Fla.
Website: https://www.jimbenedict.com
ABOUT JIM & LILY
We are a Jacksonville-based public art team known for creating purposeful, custom designs that transform spaces into destinations. Our work focuses on accessible, engaging, & uplifting projects that serve as welcoming points for the community. Using enduring materials, we approach public art as a meaningful investment that reflects a community’s values. We treat this investment responsibly and respectfully, as evidenced by our more than 20 years in public art. Our creative works have been featured in over 25 states and five countries.
Many of our recent projects have been welcoming landmarks for public parks, downtown corridors, civic spaces, campuses, trailheads, waterways, hospitals,
multimodal facilities, and educational centers. Through these projects, we have worked
with municipalities, local governments, and many comparable organizations both locally in Jacksonville and across the US, including:
- City of Jacksonville & The Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville
- City of Kissimmee, Fla., Kissimmee Utility Authority, and Toho Water Authority
- Howard County (Maryland) Recreation & Parks Department
- St. Charles (Iowa) Community Foundation, City Council, an Covered Bridge Sculpture Walk
- The United Government of Athens-Clarke County (Georgia) and the Special Purpose Location Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) team
Examples of Jim & Lily's Work
MARK AELING
Based: St. Petersburg, Fla.
Website: https://www.mgasculpture.com
ABOUT MARK
Driven by the process of investigation and experimental practices, and inspired by
patterns in nature, the spatial relationship of elements, and even a play on words, Mark Aeling creates elegant works of art that are both unique and visually stimulating. His work is a mixture of style and structure that challenges the mundane and superficial, and enriches the environment’s surrounding. His contemporary style explores themes of community, the natural world, wellness, and transformation, while nudging the viewer’s imagination toward its own discoveries.
Mark earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sculpture at Colorado State University in 1989. After completing his Master of Fine Art in Sculpture from Washington College in
1993, Mark opened MGA Sculpture Studio in St. Louis, gaining an exceptional reputation with the design, fabrication and architectural industries in the region. In 2005, he relocated MGA to Saint Petersburg, Fla. where he resides with his family. Currently the President of Saint Petersburg’s Warehouse Arts District Association, a vibrant and diverse cultural center, he has helped to shape the area through active leadership advocacy in the arts and an understanding of the need for community involvement.
In preparation for every project, Mark conducts research and participates in community engagement sessions to learn firsthand about the goals, missions, and the needs of the project and the environment. He incorporates that city’s and location’s values into the design, so that each work of art stands as an iconic symbol and reflects their identity and purpose. This element is the driving force in his process.
Mark works closely with his clients to determine how to best serve their space, mission, and budget. He has a lengthy history of working with architects, designers, and engineers, maintaining clarity of concept and vision while accommodating the input and needs of collaborators. Mark has a talent for creating work that unifies an area with its values, incorporating subject matter that speaks to its location, their mission, and compliments the surrounding architecture. His reputation for thoughtful design,
longstanding track record with return clients, and ability to manage and deliver projects on time and on budget, make Mark an ideal candidate for your project.
Mark’s extensive experience spans over 30 years as an international artist, and includes all phases involved in the creation of public art: from concept, design, and budgeting, to fabrication and installation. He and his team do the fabrication of his work in studio, with intimate knowledge of materials to create the highest impact possible. His choice in materials will reflect your city’s environmental conditions and needs, while still
honoring and creating a work of art that is thoughtful, unifying, and resilient.
EXAMPLES OF MARK'S WORK
PETER HAZEL
Based: Reno, NV
Website: https://www.peterhazel.com
ABOUT PETER
Since 2005, second generation artist Peter Hazel has been creating stunning permanent mosaic sculptures in ceramic, tile and glass. Primarily depicting the natural world, Peter is a master of form and scale and imbues his pieces with energy and vibrant color palettes that reflect his love of nature.
He works in both two- and three-dimensional sculptures, reliefs and mosaic panels. With thirty years’ experience as a custom tile and granite designer, he’s worked with high end builders and discerning private clients. He designed, built and installed custom tile and granite and handmade mosaic tiled detail work.
On a trip to Barcelona in 2008, Peter came across the works of Antoni Gaudi. “After
seeing Gaudi’s work, I couldn’t wait to get home and start creating my own. As my first piece, I made a bird bath for a friend as a birthday gift. The whole experience was not only profound and enjoyable, but the reaction was so positive that it really inspired me to take it further. I didn’t know if it was going to be good, and apart from my experience with ceramics and stone, I was entering new territory. I was so inspired by what I had seen in Gaudi’s work.”
In his most recent years in the American West, Peter has grown to be an established artist and has installed many public art pieces in the western US. His ability to create monumental lit sculptures standing as tall as 40 feet, have captured the eyes of many.
EXAMPLES OF PETER'S WORK
The full Fishweir Crossing project will require a budget of $150,000-$200,000. A fundraising committee has been formed and will launch a campaign in the fall, to coincide with the completion of the finalists’ conceptual designs.
Questions? Email roundabout@riversideavondale.org.