Sculptor: Art sparks thought

By JARED LEONE, Published January 21, 2007

One plaster figure appears to be helping to bear the weight of bent trees. Another depicts cobweb ladders climbing imaginary trees. Then there's the 11-foot lizard man with a skyscraper coming out of his head.

The works are part of a new public art project that will debut in March at Boca Ciega Millennium Park in Seminole.

Pinellas County Cultural Affairs commissioned St. Petersburg artist Leslie Fry to develop and integrate six sculptures into the nature scene along the West Loop boardwalk trail at the 184-acre park.

"The purpose of this public art project is to raise awareness, to make it almost like a treasure hunt," Fry said. The sculptures "are not going to be that easy to see. People are actually going to have to look hard, and hopefully have to look hard at the nature around them."

Fry, 52, also was named the park's resident artist as part of the commission of $30,000. She will conduct workshops and lead walks to discuss the work after it debuts March 3 at the park's Discovery Day and Nature Festival.

We caught up with Fry recently to talk about her work and public art in general.

When did you know you were meant to be an artist?

This is the one area where there has never been any doubt, even when I was young. As far as the path I've chosen, I've always felt confident about that.

How did you get involved with public art, and what about this project attracted you?

I have been an artist for a long time. I have grown further away from the gallery scene ... partly because of getting involved more in public art, where anyone can experience the work, not a small audience of museumgoers. The fact that these will be out in nature rather than the traditional venue, I love that.

Do you think public art is important?

I think it's incredibly important. With funding cuts over the years, there is less and less art in the schools. There is less art education out there, and public art is one away to get art in regular people's lives. One of the things that makes it problematic is that a lot of committees tend to be fearful of public reaction. That doesn't expand the public consciousness of what art can be. But there are lots of instances all over the country where public art has wowed a lot of people. So art can really transform an environment and place and people's consciousness.

Is it hard to create one work that is meant to please an entire community?

I would not use the word hard. I would use the word impossible. Of course, not everybody is going to be happy with it, but the thing about public art is, there are a lot of projects created that people at first might not like it, it's outrageous, and given a little time, education, awareness ... these things become beloved landmarks ... People shouldn't be so afraid of controversy, because if there is controversy, there is discussion and that leads to thinking.

Where do you draw your inspiration for this project?

I feel like it is one of the few public arts projects tied to my own vision. I didn't have to think too hard of the types of images. What I like to create are beings made up of all parts of the world we live in, to tie it into the park so it gets across the idea that there is parallel life with our human lives. It was just a nice fit.

How do you want your artwork to affect park visitors?

I have a feeling that the effect won't be so much looking at art, but looking at images they find in nature that will make them reflect more on the environment and our part in the environment and that we need to protect it.

If you go
Walk and gawk

The art will appear at Boca Ciega Millennium Park, 12410 74th Ave. N in Seminole, on March 3.

The park is open daily from 7 a.m. until dark.

Information: 588-4882 or www.pinellascounty.org/park/03_Boca_Ciega.htm.