CITY OF MADISON PUBLIC ARTS COMMISSION ANNOUNCES NEW SCULPTURE FOR GATEWAY

Installation will be mid 2024

Madison, Indiana (December 13, 2023) – The City of Madison's Public Art Commission has selected Beverly Strucker Precious' sculpture proposal, "River's Edge," for the Madison/Milton Bridge Gateway Public Art Project.  

Precious's design is a two-part sculpture consisting of a stainless steel plane representing our bright future and a perpendicular plane of oxidized steel indicative of tradition and heritage. The sculpture highlights a converging intersection of these elements, revealing carved, fired and fused dichroic glass representing the river itself. This unique form of glass reveals varying colors through different angles of light depending on the viewer's perspective, reflecting the constant yet ever-changing waters of the Ohio River. 

 Standing approximately 16 feet tall, "River's Edge" integrates the concept of old and new, past and future, with modern and traditional elements complementing the nature of our city. This abstract design will stand as a beacon to traffic coming into Indiana as they cross over from Kentucky but will reveal further details to pedestrians at a closer view.  

 The sculptor, Beverly Strucker Precious, is from South Bend, Indiana, and has a B.F.A. in sculpture and painting from the Herron School of Art at Indiana University. She is a professional member of the International Sculpture Center and the Chicago Sculpture International groups. Precious has earned dozens of awards nationwide, including the American Institute of Architects Design Award in Denver, CO, and she was also awarded as a Festival Walk Complex Ltd. Sculpture Finalist in Hong Kong.  

  "Beverly's piece is a thought-provoking and visually pleasing sculpture celebrating the rich heritage of Madison's past and the exciting future that lies ahead. It will be exciting to see this piece come to life in our community!" said Greg Goodknight, Public Arts Commission member.  

 "This event marks the first national public art competition in Madison," said Mayor Bob Courtney. "This sculpture will be the finishing touch to all the work that has been done near the bridge over the past several years and will make an incredible impression on those passing through this gateway. I am very pleased with the impact our Public Arts Commission is already having on our community."  

 The Public Arts Commission signed the contract with Precious following their meeting on December 12, 2023. Fabrication and construction of the sculpture will soon commence, with the final installation scheduled for mid-2024. To learn more about the Public Art Commission and its guidelines, visit madison-in.gov/publicarts.