On March 31, the Lucas County commissioners joined by Susan Reams, chairman of public art for the Glass City Center, released plans for public art that has been chosen for indoor and outdoor display at Glass City Center.
The public art, which will be installed over the next several months, includes a 30- foot sculpture “Blue Lupine” by Susan Zoccola on the east end of the convention center plaza, Erwin Redl’s “Ladder of Light,” which will illuminate the Monroe Street stairwell entrance with 700 lights adorning three columns and the interactive “Lucid Glass City” by Adam Frank.
“We are thrilled to unveil these exciting new additions of public art to the Glass City Center for visitors to the convention center and for our whole community to enjoy,” said Commissioner Tina Wozniak. “We believe this will be among the largest collection of public art to be installed in a convention center in the country. This public art project will greatly enhance the Glass City Center to position it for success and create positive momentum.”
“The importance of public art in society cannot be overstated, as it reflects who we are as a community, stimulates our minds, inspires creativity, adds value to all our surrounding asset and elevates a sense of awareness and culture,” Commissioner Gary Byers said. “The artwork, sculpture and murals that have been assembled for the Glass City Center will enhance the experience of everyone who lives in Lucas County and those visiting our community and convention center, attracting new businesses that, in turn, support our growing local economy.”
“We are grateful for the strong partnership we have with Marc Folk of the Arts Commission, Mrs. Reams, founder of the One Percent for Art Program, and Nathan Mattimoe, director of Art in Public Places at the Arts Commission. They collaborated with us to bring this showcase of public art that represents the cultural diversity of our community,” added Commissioner Pete Gerken. “We are eager to unveil the beautiful artwork created by this diverse group of both local and international artists.”
A design review board, consisting of members of the Arts Commission, the Lucas County commissioners, and other stakeholders, reviewed proposals submitted by artists who responded last year to a formal call to design public art installations to be integrated into strategic areas of the renovation to the convention center.
“We are extremely proud and honored to have this partnership with the county who have shown such vision. The economic impact combining the arts and the Glass City Center will create a wow-factor making the center a standout, national destination,” said Mrs. Reams.
“The Arts Commission is honored to partner with the commissioners to integrate public art into the Glass City Center and build on our community’s strong tradition of art in public places.
“Public art fosters community pride, a sense of belonging and enhances the quality of life for residents and visitors alike,” said Marc Folk, president and CEO of the Arts Commission.
Artists and the artwork selected for the Glass City Center renovations are:
•Erwin Redl, “Ladder of Light”–the four sides of each of the three columns are wrapped with horizontal light elements and spaced nine inches apart to provide nearly 700 light elements illuminating the columns and radiating light into the stairwell and outside the convention center to cast the light sequence on Monroe Street.
•Susan Zoccola, “Blue Lupine”–arranged in a square on the northeast area of the Glass City Center in the outdoor plaza, there will be four, 30-foot tall sculptures representing abstract versions of the rare Blue Lupine flower, a signature native species of the Oak Openings Region.
•Adam Frank, “Lucid Glass City”–located in the newly constructed concourse along Monroe Street that connects the existing convention center to the new ballroom, the Lucid Glass City artwork is a backlit, three-dimensional image of clouds behind a mirrored glass surface.
• Jessica Wolf, yet-to-be-named display–centered within the horizontal space of the Summit Street concourse, this display of 800 translucent acrylic discs, ranging from eight to 24 inches in diameter, is approximately 100 feet in length and suspended from the ceiling at various levels with steel cables to represent the meandering form of Swan Creek.
•Cable Griffith, “Illuminated Vistas”–a series of six illuminated four-by-eightfeet prints in lightboxes are inspired by specific natural areas of Metroparks throughout Lucas County.
The compositions are constructed based on a combination of photographs by the artist and photography submissions from the public.
•Yusuf Lateef, Pete Goldlust, and Rachel Richardson, yet-to-be-named artwork– this artwork combines glass, photography, murals and portraiture to honor the jazz clubs and musicians that were instrumental in Toledo’s jazz history and heritage and the community becoming known internationally for jazz.
•Toledo Museum of Art reproductions from their collection–this installation of several large-scale reproductions will showcase the Toledo Museum of Art collection to out-of-town visitors, add visual interest to the expansive footprint of the building and complement the newly commissioned public artworks.
The convention center is undergoing a $67.5 million renovation and expansion of the existing building for a new 16,000-square-foot ballroom that will accommodate more than 1,000 seated guests when it opens in August.
The project includes an outdoor plaza and pocket park next to the new Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites.
Additional upgrades throughout the 400,000- square-foot facility will continue through 2022 and will include major upgrades to lighting and decor.
