RICHMOND, Va. — Boulder, Colorado-based artist Joshua Wiener said he was deeply honored to be selected to create the sculpture that will become artistic centerpiece of the James River.
“We are starting the process and hope to engage the space in meaningful ways,” Wiener said. “A big part of this will be guided by the participation of the people who know and love this magnificent part of the James River.”
Example of Joshua Wiener’s work (PHOTO: Joshua Wiener)
The City of Richmond and Public Art Commission announced Wiener’s selection via press release Wednesday.
Wiener was selected by the Riverfront Art Project team that is made up of key stakeholders for the riverfront and the City. Wiener is a sculptural artist who works in large form stone and metal, while integrating the natural environment into his work.
Joshua Wiener and the Public Art Commission are hosting a public meeting to obtain input for the integration of art with the T. Tyler Potterfield Memorial Bridge project. The community is invited to attend this meeting on Saturday, Feb. 27 at 10:30 a.m. at Suntrust Mortgage, 901 Semmes Avenue.
A tour of the project site will be included as a part of this public meeting. Free parking is available in the Suntrust parking lot at 901 Semmes Avenue. Although not required, meeting attendees may register here.
“The key to my approach with this project is the idea to inspire a sense of wonder for how we can be in an exquisite relationship with our environment,” Wiener explained. “I seek to extend the visionary planner’s accomplishments with art that poetically contributes to the connection of nature and civilization. So much of what I experienced here spoke to this. This is a place to connect with nature, a center of contemporary human activity and a robust environment. There are not many places that are so magnificent.”
Example of Joshua Wiener’s work (PHOTO: Joshua Wiener)
Richmond Mayor Dwight Jones said the new T. Tyler Potterfield Memorial Bridge — a pedestrian and bicycle bridge across the Falls of the James and Wiener’s art will “expand our visual and direct access to the Richmond riverfront.”
“I sculpt in most materials and have experience in building contemplative gardens,” Wiener said. “I grew up in a stone sculpting family and studied with a master stone sculptor in Japan. I love stone, and the amount of granite that I could have access to here is exciting.”
Both the bridge and the art are expected to be completed this fall.
Here is a look at some of Joshua Wiener’s other work.
Wiener plans to hire an intern, from Richmond, who would fly to Colorado and work on the project.
