Committee approves Alex Braden design, raises TDOT approvals and maintenance questions for Arthur Avenue lighting project

The Metro Public Arts Committee on April 17 approved the final design by artist Alex Braden for the Arthur Avenue Public Art Lighting Project, including an expanded artist budget of $500,000 and additional site-preparation and project management funds from Metro Arts and the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

Anne Leslie (Metro Arts collections/manager) presented the final design, which the artist titled Be as Water and which staff described as a multimedia canopy of programmable LED light set against a deep blue painted background on vertical walls and I‑beams beneath the Interstate 65 Arthur Avenue underpass.

Nut graf: The vote advances a multiyear, community‑driven lighting project that began with an NEA grant and neighborhood advocacy; because the underpass is TDOT property, staff said the project must pass multiple engineering and agency reviews, a license agreement or lease and final Metro Council approvals before installation can begin.

Staff told the committee the project began with a $75,000 National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grant and later received additional funds, increasing the artist budget to $500,000. Anne Leslie said TDOT completed structural repairs to the bridge and that Metro Arts and TDOT are funding site preparation and project management work. The design retains dynamic LED lighting as the central feature; earlier concepts that included benches and extensive murals were scaled back because of site constraints and maintenance responsibilities. Leslie said painting on some vertical wall areas and I‑beams will use colors from a federally approved transportation color palette that better fit the final design.

Committee members asked about the approval steps and timeline. Leslie explained that stamped drawings must be reviewed by Metro engineers and then by TDOT, followed by a license agreement and a Metro Council approval process. With those steps in mind, staff estimated installation could begin about June (staff said "approximately June" for site work) with a dedication shortly afterward, weather permitting. Leslie described phased site work that includes painting and electrical infrastructure (about two months) followed by roughly a week or more for the artwork installation itself.

The committee also discussed maintenance responsibilities. Anne Leslie said that painting and large wall treatments on TDOT-owned surfaces would remain TDOT maintenance responsibilities unless otherwise negotiated; benches and other elements were removed from the artist's final design because of limited space and maintenance concerns. Community involvement remains part of the plan: staff said the artist will meet with community elders and stakeholders and that the selection panel included neighborhood representatives.

The motion to approve Alex Braden's final design for the Arthur Avenue Public Art Lighting Project passed by voice vote. The committee recorded a second and a voice vote of assent; individual member votes were not recorded in the meeting transcript.

Ending: Staff said they expect the artist to complete stamped drawings and that Metro Arts will return to the committee as the TDOT review and Metro Council approval progress.