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Franklin City arts committee approves new durable ‘kite’ panels for Art Craft Alley, commits $1,500 pending final renderings
Summary
The Franklin City Community Art Committee approved a plan to replace worn fabric stars in Art Craft Alley with polycarbonate 'kite' panels, agreeing to a $1,500 contribution pending final renderings to be approved by email. Members focused discussion on color, tilt and durability.
The Franklin City Community Art Committee approved a plan to replace the tattered fabric stars in the Art Craft Alley with polycarbonate “kite” panels and agreed to contribute $1,500 toward the project pending emailed approval of revised renderings.
Committee members said the new material will be cheaper and longer-lasting than the fabric stars it replaces and would allow the installation to remain in place year-round. “This will be able to stay up year round,” the presenter said, noting prototypes already installed in the alley have held up in tests.
Why it matters: The alley is a high-visibility downtown corridor and the new panels are intended to reduce ongoing installation and removal costs while creating an overhead feature that is photo-friendly for downtown visitors. Members focused on ensuring the installation displays color from both approaches and does not show a wall of white backs to pedestrians from certain directions.
What was decided: The committee moved to approve “the general concept and $1,500 funding pending approval via email of the revised concept,” a motion that was seconded and adopted by voice vote.
Design details and conditions: Members asked the vendor to provide revised renderings showing (1) slight offsets so kites are staggered rather than in a strict row, (2) a tilt change half-way through the alley so both approaches see color, and (3) alternatives for the kite back (white is the default, but the committee asked if colored backings at partial quantities are available). The presenter said about 80 panels are planned, with extras for replacements, and that a higher-cost glitter coating could be added to enhance blacklight effects at night (the presenter estimated the glitter option would add “a couple thousand” in cost).
Funding and timeline: The presenter said festival-country funding and an additional grant (referred to in the meeting as Dana’s grant) are already in place; the committee’s $1,500 contribution is intended to unlock production pending the emailed sign-off on revised renderings. Installation is planned for spring contingent on funding and final design approvals.
What’s next: The vendor will produce updated renderings reflecting the color and offset suggestions and circulate them to committee members for email approval before production begins.
