Public art projects coming to Fort Myers
BY EVAN WILLIAMS ewilliams@florida-weekly.com

FLORIDA WEEKLY PHOTO Sharon McAllister of the Public Arts Committee is drumming up support for downtown arts projects.

Construction cones, strip malls, graffiti, gated communities, car dealerships, or a man drunkenly urinating on the side of a gas station, are all examples of what is not generally considered "public art," and are appreciated more by some than others, in the often picturesque city of Fort Myers.

Not that that's all bad- or all that's there.

But the nine-member Fort Myers Public Arts Committee, which meets monthly,

seeks to enrich the city and reflects markedly

different artistic principles. A public arts project it initiated will commission artworks, which "exhibit the highest quality of skill and aesthetic principles recognizing that the art will become integral, lasting components of the cityscape."

The cost of the art may be funded in large part by local commercial developers, who by city ordinance must donate a percentage of their construction cost to the Fort Myers Public Art Fund, before they start building.

FLORIDA WEEKLY PHOTO The Florida Panther, by D.J. Wilkins, 1988, is one example of downtown Fort Myers art.

"With this ordinance, I am recommending each new development of a certain size set aside 1.5 percent of the construction cost, not to exceed $150,000, for the acquisition of public art," wrote Fort Myers mayor Jim Humphrey on the city's website. "The art can be a statue or sculpture like some of the ones you see around the City of Fort Myers already, including: 'Uncommon Friends' statue in Centennial Park, the light sculpture 'Caloosahatchee Manuscripts' in front of the Old Federal Post Office and 'Tootie McGregor' fountain in front of Brixz."

Developers who contribute funds for the arts will have the option of either giving the money to the committee directly, or using it to build public art on their own properties, through their own commissions or collections.

Related Group, for example, the developer of the high-rise building The Oasis, plans to install their own artwork on the 17-acre property, some of it now being made, and some of it already owned by Miami-based megadeveloper, and Related Group owner, Jorge Perez.

"Jorge Perez is the largest collector of Spanish art in the world," Goldie Malt, sales director of The Oasis, said. "You'll see some of his collection on [The Oasis] property. We also purchased a painting by Robert Rauschenberg at the art show that will be used there. We elected different artists; I think it was in Tampa, to do sculptures outside and paintings for the inside. Most of that will be available to the public."

And Homes for America Holdings, Inc., the developer of the high-rise condos Rivera, St. Tropez and Beau Rivage, has commissioned internationally recognized artist Albert Paley to build a sculpture.

"My guess is they spent more than $300,000," Public Arts Committee member and ArtFest director Sharon McAllister said. "But they won't tell us how much."

The committee's current bank account is now up to $250,000, much of which will soon be spent on three separate projects.

"The idea is, you want to make the outdoor space more enjoyable, more culturally oriented, and one of the best ways to do that is public art," McAllister said. "Our job, in general, is to determine where art will go in the city, what the budget is, and some general thought as to what it will be. Then we send out a call to artists with the general budget, location, restrictions on the project, and due date, and the artists send back ideas."

One project is a $22,000 commissioned work to be named "The Marks and Brands Project," and when finished, the chosen artist will have a select spot on First Street from Bay Street to Monroe Street in downtown Fort Myers, as the "canvas." That artist's job will be to interpret a historical idea: the importance of ranchers and cattlemen in this part of the state.

"This used to be a cattle trail," McAllister said, pointing at the designated stretch of First Street, just outside her ArtFest offices. "Public art is usually of things that celebrate or call attention to the place, like this 'Marks and Brands' project, like the palm trees. Things that have a sense of place here. It can be an authentic representation of them or a contemporary interpretation. What the artists do is, figure out if it should be mosaics, brass, threedimensional, two-dimensional, purple, green, turquoise…"

A second project is a $100,000 commission, which will be awarded to the artist with the best idea for a large, sculptural piece to be placed at the west end of Centennial Park.

"Probably 30 feet tall," McAllister said, motioning with her hands. "Big. We want it to relate to the water, the scenery. There's lots of catalogues you could buy public art from, just pick it, put it here, and call it a day, but public art is not about that."

The third commission, to be named "The Fallen Officer Memorial," will be designed for the Fort Myers Police Department on Peck Street near downtown, to commemorate officers killed in the line of duty.

"The Police Department was going to order one," McAllister said. "We asked, 'Would you be interested in commissioning one that would be unique to the city of Fort Myers?'…They're trying to make the front of the Police Department less stark."

The price of this commission will be funded in collaboration between the police department, the arts committee, and private donations - sort of an unlikely alliance, McAllister noted, between groups who otherwise may not seem to have much in common.

"Not only does the program supply art to the city and make it more appealing, but it makes everybody part of the same team," said public arts committee member and Space 39 Gallery owner, Terry Tincher.