Arts commission recommends Southside Community Center as preferred site for Touch the Sky sculpture

The Oroville Arts Commission recommended that the city approach the Southside Community Center as the preferred location for the Touch the Sky sculpture and authorized staff to pursue that option with Centennial Park as a fallback.

Commissioners said the commission had approved a NOFA amount for the project of $25,000 and discussed several possible locations, including the levee/centennial park overlook and the Southside Community Center. Commissioners noted that Southside is a popular venue for community events and could help bring attention to a part of town some described as underused.

Commissioners discussed practical site considerations such as electrical outlets, visibility from the road, and pedestrian access. One commissioner noted the levee site would provide a water backdrop popular for photographs; another raised concerns that a roundabout would encourage unsafe behavior if the sculpture invited people to climb on it.

Commissioners also reviewed a written artist statement about the sculpture (on file with the commission) describing the work as a seated woman with outstretched arms and flowing tail feathers intended to be a visual metaphor for “taking leaps of faith.” Commissioners noted the sculpture’s base was intended to serve as a place where people could sit and view details.

A motion to approach Southside Community Center with Centennial Park as the alternate site passed; the record shows the motion passed with all in favor. The commission instructed staff to pursue site approvals and, if necessary, bring a formal recommendation to city council for funding and final siting.