Fluvial, a new public artwork on the Urban Trail
Fluvial, a new public artwork on the Urban Trail
Happening Now
The City of Asheville, along with the Public Art and Culture Commission and Urban Trail Committee, are excited to announce the installation and dedication of a new piece of public art.
A portion of the sidewalk and one lane of traffic at 56 Patton Avenue will be closed the morning of Tuesday, November 11 to accommodate installation of the new artwork.
The piece will be draped after installation until the dedication/unveiling ceremony on Thursday, November 13 at 1:00 p.m. The public is invited and light refreshments will be available. Details on opportunities for the media to interview the artist and other city officials will be shared prior to the ceremony.
Background
The sculpture, titled Fluvial, was designed, fabricated and will be installed by metal worker Rachel David with Red Metal. Functioning as both public art and seating, the piece will be alongside the existing outdoor dining area in front of the historic S&W Building, next to The Times Bar & Coffee. Fluvial reimagines and replaces the long vacant Station #7 on the Urban Trail and is inspired by Art Deco architecture, Douglas Ellington’s S&W Building and David’s unique artistry.
A call for artists went out in April, 2024 for a new piece of art to reimagine and replace Station 7 on the Urban Trail. A competitive process included a panel of Public Art and Culture Commission members and community stakeholders which resulted in Rachel David’s concept being selected. In July 2024, the Public Art and Culture Commission recommended the city move forward with David’s concept. Staff has been working with the community and the artist through the design, fabrication and installation process.
Fluvial Image Carousel with photos of the process.
The Original Art Deco Masterpiece
Artists Carleton Collins and James Barnhill designed the original Art Deco Masterpiece that made up Station 7 of the Urban Trail and was funded by Mrs. Camille Roberts. The large 4 ft x 7 ft mosaic marker was constructed in Venice, Italy, and shipped to Asheville where it was originally embedded into the sidewalk. Over time, water and foot traffic began to damage the mosaic and it was removed from the sidewalk and mounted to an exterior facade at 1 Haywood Street. Several years later, the building went through upgrades to accommodate new tenants and the City was asked to remove the artwork. The piece remained in storage for many years, even surviving Helene floodwaters, while city staff and the Urban Trail Committee worked to find a new home for the artwork on city-owned property. Public art funds were dedicated to the reinstallation effort and several locations and mock-ups were explored, however, all were ruled out due to visibility, safety, available City property, or conflicts with utilities. In mid-2023 staff and the Public Art and Culture Commission began the process to create a brand new piece of artwork that would better fit within available public space and keep the S&W Building in view. Plans are in the works to find a safe, indoor location for the original mosaic and more information will be shared when those plans are finalized.
Learn more about the other artwork on the Urban Trail.
Ribbon Cutting & Dedication of "Fluvial" Public Artwork
Join the City of Asheville, the Public Art and Culture Commission, and the Urban Trail Committee for the installation and dedication of "Fluvial," a stunning new public artwork by metal worker Rachel David with Red Metal.
"Fluvial" will function as both public art and seating, reimagining and replacing the long-vacant Station #7 on the Urban Trail. Inspired by Art Deco architecture, Douglas Ellington’s S&W Building, and David’s unique artistry, this piece will be located alongside the existing outdoor dining area in front of the historic S&W Building.
The public is invited to attend the dedication/unveiling ceremony, and light refreshments will be available. Come celebrate this exciting new addition to Asheville's public art collection and the Urban Trail!