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Friday, Jun. 05, 2009

Art, culture are part of plan for Richland

By Stephanie Hartwig, Mid-Columbia Voices

Last year, an unlikely medium presented an opportunity for artistic expression.

Two dying trees in Howard Amon Park scheduled for removal were instead transformed into public art.

Two imaginative Richland Parks Department employees, Manuel Pardini and Bob Permannsaw, recognized the potential to turn the decrepit maple and black walnut into sculptures.

Fortunately for art lovers and park visitors, the Richland Arts Commission, an appointed nine-member volunteer group of artists and residents, took on the task of fulfilling the workers' vision.

Recognizing the trees presented a unique site for public art, the board commissioned Tri-City chain saw artist Paul Jones of Spirit Brothers Chainsaw Art to give the trees new life.

Public response to the tree sculptures has been overwhelmingly positive and is evidence of the regard Tri-City residents place on art in the community.

The Howard Amon tree carvings were the first in a series of planned projects for the city of Richland. The next commissioned work is scheduled for Lee Landing Plaza.

Plans for public art in Richland were developed by the arts commission and are focused on the nearly three miles of shoreline between Columbia Point Marina Park and Centennial Plaza. These projects are funded by the city's lodging tax.

Over the past decade, population growth prompted city leaders in Richland and Kennewick to consider the role of art in the community's expansion plans.

Recognizing the value of art as a key element in the area's economic diversification, city officials established arts commissions in Richland and Kennewick to oversee arts programs in the respective cities.

The Richland Arts Commission has taken an active role in developing a comprehensive strategic plan for the city that supports a broad range of art disciplines.

While public art is the most visible, the commission also is focused on promoting the literary and performing arts. Plans are under way for future activities, including festivals, public contests, concerts and community celebrations featuring area artists.

The events are designed to stimulate and encourage artistic expression in an open format accessible to the public. The arts commission's goal is to establish Richland as a recognized arts district that will be enjoyed and patronized by Mid-Columbia residents.

In creating arts programs, Richland and Kennewick are following the path of several hundred cities across the nation. These communities are experiencing the benefits of integrating art and culture into their development plans.

The arts enrich community life, provide attractive destinations for visitors and generate additional revenue for the city.

However, the strength of any arts program depends largely on community support and sustainability. To develop a secure funding base, the Arts Commission will be looking to both public and private funding sources.

The Richland Art Foundation, a nonprofit organization recently established to support the arts, is one local resource the commission hopes to tap into for future funding.

The Foundation's priority is to give art a voice in the community, which is precisely what the arts commission's projects are intended to achieve.

* Stephanie Hartwig is a communications and marketing consultant who is an at-large member of the Richland Arts Commission. She can be reached at stephhartwig@ yahoo.com. Go to www.richland art.org for more information on the commission.

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