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58 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, August 3, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 2, 2004 Artwork needed for Ashland stairway By BILL CHOY Mail Tribune ASHLAND — The final element is under way in the recovery from a 1997 flood that devastated downtown. Construction of a public stairway between Calle Guanajuato and Granite Street will replace a stairway destroyed by the New Year’s Day Flood of 1997. To add to the project’s beauty and cultural significance, the Ashland Public Arts Commission will have artists from Ashland and Guanajuato, Mexico — Ashland’s sister city — create artwork for the stairway. The approximately $95,000 project began in June and should be completed by September, said Don Robertson, director of the Ashland Parks and Recreation Department, which is overseeing the work. Other flood recovery work has included a new stone wall in Lithia Park to direct flood waters into the stream channel (away from downtown and the front lawn of Lithia Park) and a new bridge over Winburn Way. Advertisement The Ashland Public Arts Commission is inviting artists from the area and Guanajuato to submit artwork for the stairway, said Bruce Bayard, chairman of the stairway arts project for the commission. "Since it’s at Calle Guanajuato, we thought it would be a great opportunity to enhance the cultural exchange between the two sister cities," Bayard said. The theme is water, to symbolize the creek and the flood, he said. While the choice of materials is left to the entrant, the work must be permanently installed and needs to be able to withstand being left outdoors. Artists such as painters are also invited to submit entries, which could then be transferred to another art medium, Bayard said. "It’s totally up to the artist of what they want to create based on the theme," he said. Bayard said public art is a vital thing for Ashland. "Public art is a very good barometer of the health of a community," he said. "The fact that Ashland public art has been hit and miss is something that we’re trying to improve upon." Bayard hopes to have artwork chosen by September, with installation beginning in the fall. The commission hopes to get grants and to raise $15,000 to $50,000 for the project. So far, about $1,000 has been raised. The stairway project was designed by KenCairn Sager Landscape Architects, of Ashland. Bayard said the commission also has plans for a sculpture garden, which members hope to have installed by next year. Bill Choy is a reporter for the Mail Tribune and the Ashland Daily Tidings. Reach him at 482-3456. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times