Town to Install John Ross Sculpture at Center for Active Aging

The Wake Forest Public Art Commission has selected a sculpture by John Ross to replace an empty concrete pad at the Center for Active Aging, a commission representative told the Town of Wake Forest Board of Commissioners. The piece, titled "Saturn's Toy Box," was selected at a negotiated price of $9,500.

The selection, presented to Mayor and commissioners during the meeting, was described as part of the commission's creative placemaking program. The Public Art Commission representative said the commission "put out a call for artists to submit sculptures with color and whimsy for a budget of 10,000 and that to be all inclusive of travel and installation" and that artists had to be approved for the commission's artist roster before consideration.

The representative said commissioners and the commission reviewed many submissions, researched artists' previous placements and interviewed past clients. The presentation described the artist's work as conveying "the feeling is electric. Energy passes from the fingertips to cold steel. The marriage of metals." The representative said the town hopes the sculpture will be visible to seniors at the Center for Active Aging, motorists on the adjacent road and nearby neighborhood residents.

Commissioners asked about timing; the Public Art Commission representative said installation is hoped for "sometime [around] July 1." No formal town vote on the purchase was recorded in the meeting minutes provided; the presentation was informational to the board.

The sculpture purchase will be funded within the Public Art Commission's program budget, the representative said during the presentation. The artist was identified as John Ross of Morganton, North Carolina.