Artists make final pitch for Fruitville Road roundabout sculpture

Three artists vying to get the nod for a $250,000 public art sculpture in the roundabout at U.S. 41 and Fruitville Road participated in one final concept development meeting with members of the Public Art Committee last week. 

And for the first time in the monthslong process, they heard from the public as well.

In an online meeting, artists Shan Shan Sheng of San Francisco and Sujin Lim and Mark Reigelman, both of New York, presented their refined concepts and heard feedback from some of the more than 40 citizens who logged on.

From here, the artists will have one more meeting with the PAC, which will make its recommendation to the City Commission for selection of the piece, a decision that has been more than a year in the making since commissioners rejected Dwell in April 2022. 

Dwell, a multi-color concept depicting coral, was also submitted by Lim and recommended to commissioners, who declined it because it had no representation of Sarasota. 

Surrounded by luxury condominium and hotel towers, the Fruitville Road roundabout is a focal point downtown, and the selected sculpture will be nestled amid a backdrop of mostly white architecture. The proposals by Sheng and Reigelman offer colorful glass and metallic contrasts against that canvas, while Lim’s concept blends in, taking advantage of internal lighting at night to stand out.

Only a handful of viewers had questions, some of them about the sturdiness of the pieces against hurricane force winds, particularly Sheng’s piece, Dancing Clouds, made of colorful architectural glass mounted atop steel poles at a variety of heights; and Lim’s Sun Always Shines, two translucent clouds mounted by sunray-evoking supports, one with a tiny house mounted on top. 

Reigelman’s Snowbirds is three dark-eyed junco birds balancing atop each other, paying homage to both the city’s circus legacy and its seasonal population migration. Although the concept shows the birds as pink, Reigelman said he is flexible on the color.

Former PAC member Leslie Butterfield addressed the severe weather concerns.

“Having listened to so many presentations and hearing the engineers talk and do the research, I don't worry that we won't have the technology behind this to ensure that whatever we select will work,” Butterfield said. "I know people are concerned about that, but we have a lot of support in the city and with the engineers.”

Two other participants asked about the amount of area artist participation in the process, suggesting at least one local should have been included among the three finalists.

“There were several local artists who submitted their work for consideration,” said Sarasota Senior Planner and public art lead Mary Davis Wallace. “We had close to 160 applicants for this particular (request for qualifications), so there were absolutely local artists who submitted their work. The selection process however, is determined by vote, and we try to be as fair as possible with that.”

Courtesy rendering

Mark Reigelman on Snowbirds

The dark-eyed junco is more commonly known as the snowbird. It's one of the few birds that doesn't move when weather changes. They stay put, and I thought it was kind of an interesting play on words. When you think about snowbirds, as relates to Ringling Brothers coming to Sarasota in the winter months, but also people that come to Florida as well. The giant birds form a precarious tower gazing west toward the setting sun, the sculpture nods to the iconic Ringling Circus as three juncos mimic a feat of balance and boldness that the circus was known for. 

Snowbirds invites viewers to contemplate the delicate balance of play and fragility in a constantly changing world while examining our own migratory impulses versus the desire to stay put. 

Courtesy rendering

Sujin Lim on Sun Always Shines

I was strongly inspired by sunbeams poking through clouds to the Earth. These images give such a hopeful and positive story in our life. My concept was to combine the image of clouds as a metaphor of nature. The sculpture will be composed of cloud-shaped sculpture pieces with a small house on top and rays of sunshine poking out, which represents the human experience with nature by symbolically bringing the human habitat into the natural world. 

The clouds and sunbeams shining down represent nature. The sun represents what people love so much about living in Florida. The small house on top of the cloud is really the cozy intimate sensation of a cottage in the dark with a warm golden glow.

Courtesy rendering

Shan Shan Sheng on Dancing Clouds

Each panel is multiple clouds and various shapes and sizes. Those are handmade architectural art glass, presenting unique light and color into active sculpture that symbolizes the diverse and vigorous spirit of the Sarasota people. At different times (of day) the color changes as the artwork is changing with the light. Every time you see the sculpture you will find something new.

The glass panels will have a clear finish that will protect them from UV rays. The color will be fired onto glass at a temperature of about 600 to 800 degrees Fahrenheit for a permanent bond.