Public Art Chattanooga announces the arrival of two large gateway sculptures, which will be installed this week at the Blue Goose Hollow Trailhead on the Riverwalk. The community is invited to a dedication ceremony and celebration in partnership with the Bessie Smith Cultural Center.
The event will feature a tribute to the African American history of Blue Goose Hollow with a Bessie Smith inspired performance by Neshawn Calloway and music and history telling with Dr. Clark White.
Public officials will also be in attendance for a ribbon cutting and dedication of the sculptures. This family friendly event with food trucks and fun activities will take place Saturday, June 30, from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Blue Goose Hollow Trailhead (MLK Boulevard and Riverfront Parkway).
Opening remarks and a ribbon cutting with Mayor Andy Berke and public officials will begin at 11:45 a.m. There will be music and performers from 12-1 p.m. Food trucks and activities will be from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
“Resurgence: A Statement of Celebration,” features two free-standing sculptures that visually interact to draw visitors to the Riverpark and give Blue Goose Hollow its own identity and prominence in Chattanooga’s landscape. Planning for an artwork to mark the historically significant site began in 2016, thanks to generous private funding from the Benwood Foundation and the Lyndhurst Foundation.
A community panel of city and county representatives, neighborhood residents, and business owners selected the artwork after launching a competitive RFQ process, followed by a concept design phase which resulted in five different proposals. World renowned sculptor, Albert Paley’s winning design was chosen for its reflection of the diverse history of the site – its people, community, and commerce as well as the social and political change it has experienced.
“Resurgence will have an iconic presence on Chattanooga’s west side, the colorful steel sculptures rise up in celebration of diversity and transformation - a material representation of Blue Goose Hollow’s industrial past with a symbolic and dynamic reach towards the future,” said Katelyn Kirnie, director of Public Art Chattanooga.
The smaller sculpture in the installation, which is 14 by 14 feet, will be located at the east entrance to the park, greeting visitors as they approach the Riverwalk from the parking area. The larger, monumental sculpture, which is 50 feet tall and 18 feet wide, will be located along the river, acting as a major landmark and drawing park visitors’ attention to the stunning panoramic views of the river and adjacent hills