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May Issue 2004
Public Art Unveiling at EdVenture Children's Museum in Columbia, SC
The Cultural Council of Richland & Lexington Counties and Edventure Children's Museum in Columbia, SC, are pleased to announce the installation and unveiling of "Eco Chambers" a kinetic sculpture by Chicago artist, Christine Rojek, outside EdVenture on May 8, 2004.
After more than two years of planning, representatives from the Cultural Council of Richland & Lexington Counties, EdVenture Children's Museum, the City of Columbia and the community selected a $50,000 piece of public art. The selected sculpture is a 17-foot interactive, kinetic tower entitled "Eco Chambers". When visitors pull a rope, a series of movements coincide that demonstrate the concept of balance in nature.
"'Eco Chambers' incorporates simple kinetics that allows the public to interact with the art. Viewers can activate various pieces of the sculpture including a teeter-totter and a figure of a child balancing on top of a globe," said Rojek. "Four puzzle-like murals at the base of the tower will illustrate the dramatic visual effects various climates have on nature. The intricate patterns engage children and parents in an artistic treasure hunt."
The search for a piece of art for the children's museum began when Cultural Council and EdVenture board members met with community and local arts representatives. The collective group set down criteria which were deemed appropriate for the site, the community and the mission of the museum. Their findings were developed into a prospectus that was later distributed through multiple artist listings nationwide.
Unexpected by the committee, requests for the prospectus came from around the globe. More than 1000 inquiries came in from as far as China and Australia. There were requests from sculptors in Italy, Hollywood set makers and national amusement park designers.
When the deadline for submissions came in January, 170 full proposals had been received. Submissions arrived from 33 states, nine of which were from South Carolina and 11 international artists. Proposals ranged from kinetic sculpture and fine art to water fountains and laser installations.
The committee went through five selection rounds and recruited help from A.C. Moore a Midlands elementary school before "Eco Chambers" was selected.
"EdVenture was excited to be involved in the selection of Rojek's kinetic sculpture," says Catherine Horne, president and CEO of EdVenture. "An artist of this caliber brings a lot to our mission to inspire the joy of learning through hands-on involvement. We say to children at EdVenture, 'It's Your World,' and when the children interact with 'Eco Chambers', they are learning that they are an important part of the world around them."
The funding for the new sculpture came from the Cultural Council's Art in Public Places Program. Money raised from their Palmetto Tree Project held four years ago was earmarked for various permanent public art installations in the Midlands.
The Public Art Committee allotted $50,000 from these funds for a permanent piece for EdVenture. Funds were also allocated for the new Lexington County Courthouse, Riverbanks Zoo and the Columbia Museum of Art. The Columbia Museum of Art has already used a portion of their funding to install the Henry Moore sculpture "Upright Motive No. 8" in Boyd Plaza last year. "Eco Chambers" is the 21st piece of public art the Cultural Council has installed in the Midlands.
The Cultural Council of Richland and Lexington Counties is a non-profit organization whose mission is to create and nurture a climate throughout the two-county area in which cultural programs, involving both institutions and individuals, can thrive. Through cooperative planning, public education and fundraising, the organization supports more than 100 arts-related organizations and coordinates special projects to enhance the quality of life for Midlands residents. For more information, call 803/799-3115 or visit online at (www.getcultured.org).
EdVenture Children's Museum is a 67,000-square-foot hands-on learning center that enriches the lives of children, families and teachers across South Carolina through dynamic and diverse exhibits, programs and events. It opened in Downtown Columbia on Nov. 8, 2003. Its mission is to inspire the joy of learning. For more information, call 803/779-3100 or go to (www.edventure.org).
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