By Kim McDarison
A Whitewater public art project is underway featuring boards that area artists are invited to turn into barn squares.
According to Ashe McDarison, manager of the Whitewater Arts Alliance, the project is offered annually and has, in the past, featured such items as birdhouses, chairs and plywood scrolls, among other items and plywood cutouts, for decoration by area participants. The items are then hung throughout the summer months from lampposts within the city’s downtown.
Those interested in participating may arrive at either the Whitewater Cultural Arts Center, 402 W. Main St., Whitewater, or the Whitewater Area Chamber of Commerce office, 150 W. Main St., to register for participation in the project and pick up a 2- by 4-foot plywood board.
McDarison noted that a board can be purchased for $10 in person at either location or can be purchased online for $12, and picked up at either location.
Monies collected from board sales are used to support the cost of the materials, ze said.
In a recent interview, project chairperson Mary Nevicosi said boards were not cut into squares, but instead were cut into the traditionally sized boards used for the annual project.
Artists can use the additional space to dedicate the work to someone, or personalize the board in some way, or sign their name to their art. “Or do two squares,” she said, adding that artists are at liberty to decide how to use their real estate.
McDarison said boards should be decorated on both sides and artists can use a wide range of mediums and materials to cover their boards, however finished boards cannot weigh more than 20 pounds. Each board also must be “clear-coated” to protect the images from the weather, McDarison noted, adding that a single board also can be the work of a group of people.
Artists are encouraged to make their boards creative, whimsical, unique and quirky, McDarison said, but are asked to avoid company logos, advertising, and any depictions of messages that offer religious or social disrespect. The Whitewater Arts Alliance reserves the right to make final decisions on any boards offered for inclusion within the public art project, ze stated.
Finished boards must be returned to the Whitewater Arts Alliance or the Whitewater Area Chamber of Commerce by April 15, McDarison said.
For more information about the Whitewater Arts Alliance, including its hours of operation; the Whitewater Cultural Arts Center, and the 2023 Public Art Project, visit the alliance’s website: https://www.whitewaterarts.org.
For more information about the Whitewater Area Chamber of Commerce, including its hours of operation, visit its website: https://www.whitewaterchamber.com.
Precut boards are on hand at the Whitewater Cultural Arts Center. The boards are available for pickup by those who would like to participate in this year’s public art project. The theme this year is barn squares. Kim McDarison photo.
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