Alpharetta panel unanimously recommends 10 sculptures for "Dazzled and Discord" public-art exhibit

At its meeting, the Alpharetta Cultural Arts Commission unanimously recommended a slate of sculptures for the Dazzled and Discord public-art exhibit, forwarding individual approvals and an alternate to Mayor and Council for final sign-off.

Nancy Murphy of Arts Alpharetta told commissioners the exhibit — described as the fifth round in the city's series — seeks "visual delight" and the theme of "Dazzled and Discord," a title meant to capture surprise and musical references linked to Alpharetta's identity as a music city. Murphy reviewed 10 proposed works and their preferred placements across downtown parks, the greenway and near City Hall.

The commission approved recommendations for (selected features and proposed siting): Nouveau Crane by Lee Bell (between City Hall and the library; noted for color and scale); A Crack in the Past (two-part piece with three location options near the parking deck; commissioners discussed sight-line and pedestrian circulation before approving the original siting); Wonder by Abagail Law (scrap-metal flower piece proposed behind the library at Brook Street Park, recommended with children and active park use in mind); Century by Ben Stover (Brook Street Park near the Little Lazy River); Just One Look by Greg Johnson (12-foot steel-and-Plexiglas hummingbird where Yellowbird sits at Haines Bridge and Academy); Urban Flow (lit downtown piece near The Hamilton); Vertex Vortex (wind-driven, solar-lit moving sculpture at Thompson Street Park with spare bearings and backup solar panel supplied by the artist); King of the Prairie (11-foot stained-glass-and-steel piece sited on Thompson Street where it will get good sun exposure); Rising Spirits (polished-aluminum group at the Web Ridge Park entrance); and Red Green Construction by Ray Katz (16-foot tree-like work at the greenway entrance across from Union Hill Park). Commissioners also approved Virgin Column as an alternate in case an artist withdraws or a work is sold before the city contracts with it.

Commissioners discussed logistics for particular sites — lighting for nighttime presentation, scale relative to sidewalks and parking-deck sight-lines, and maintenance features such as the solar and spare parts that the Vertex Vortex artist will supply. Several commissioners praised the overall quality and variety of the collection and noted the public-art walk and online GIS map will be updated after Mayor and Council action.

All votes on individual sculptures passed unanimously; the meeting record does not list numeric tallies. The commission noted Mayor and Council will take final action on the recommendations at its July 14 agenda, after which installations are expected to be scheduled (proposed installations were described as staggered between August and September).