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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMosaics Contact: Jennifer Bennerotte, Communications & Marketing Director Phone 952-833-9520 • Fax 952-826-0389 • Web www.CityofEdina.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Bicycle Mosaics to be dedicated Sept. 10 Edina, Minn., Aug. 24, 2011 – Those walking the Edina Promenade and viewing sculptures, shoppers at the Fall into the Arts Festival, bicyclists and the general public are encouraged to attend a special tribute to bicyclists next month. The Edina Public Art Committee will dedicate the Bicycle Mosaics on the York Avenue Bridges at the Edina Promenade at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, during the Fall into the Arts Festival. Installation of the Bicycle Mosaics was a joint project of the Edina Art Center Board’s Public Art Committee and the Bike Edina Task Force. The artistic endeavor was initiated by Antonio Rosell, Director of Community Design Group (CDG), the firm hired by the City of Edina to build elements of the Comprehensive Bicycle Transportation Plan. Rosell brought in experts from Mosaic on a Stick, an artist- owned mosaic supply shop, community classroom and artist studio located in St. Paul to begin the project. The bicycle art mosaic project was set up in the City Hall lobby during two open houses for citizens to participate in hearing about the vision for bicycling in Edina and discuss it. Before and after those meetings, people selected tile pieces and glued them on mesh patterns. The mosaics-in-progress were set up at the first Edina Bike Rodeo held at Concord Elementary School. People of all ages -- children, parents, singles, seniors and others -- took place in building the mosaics. According to Kirk Johnson of the Bike Edina Task Force, bicycle enthusiasts who participated in the artwork wanted to create bicycle-themed mosaic art to increase awareness of Edina’s progressive, bicycle- friendly Edina where citizens can integrate cycling into their daily lives. The mosaics were grouted and installed by Adama Sow and Timothy Colby using special all-weather glue and grout and covered with an anti-graffiti coating. Alex Dirr, who was the high school representative on the Bike Edina Task Force, worked with the Edina Public Art Committee and Edina Art Center staff members to do the final grouting and finishing. The final assembly, grouting and installation was possible through a grant from the Peggy Kelly Family Fund through the Edina Community Foundation. “This is a wonderful collaborative effort between the Edina Art Center staff and volunteers from the Edina Public Art Committee and the Bike Edina Task Force. A big thanks is also due to City Engineer/Public Works Director Wayne Houle for supporting this project and helping secure Hennepin County’s formal approval to place these wonderful mosaics on the County’s bridge,” said John Keprios, Edina Park & Recreation Director. “These are not only beautiful works of public art in the park system that enhance the public’s park experience, but I’d like to think that they also promote the effort to encourage more people to ride bicycles and make Edina a more bicycle-friendly community.” Johnson was responsible for guiding the project to completion. “The mosaics remind us that the bicycle is a beautiful transportation choice,” he said. “I'm grateful for the teamwork that produced these positive images for our Edina residents and visitors to enjoy." Members of the Edina Public Art Committee agree. “We are especially hoping that some of the participants who made the original mosaics can attend the dedication and sign our Mosaic Artists Guestbook,” said Lois Ring, Chair of the Edina Public Art Committee. “These art works will bring beautiful artistic life to the new concrete walls. This project has the true spirit of community participation, which is a major component of what public art is all about!” For more information, visit www.BikeEdina.org, www.EdinaPublicArt.org or www.EdinaArtCenter.com. -30- Cutline: Edina Art Center Adama Sow and Alex Dirr, a high school student who was part of the Bike Edina Task Force, are pictured with one of the bicycle mosaics before it was installed on the York Avenue Bridges.