BENTONVILLE -- Visit Bentonville will pay for an interactive public art piece with science and technology aspects.
The piece called PoGlow Sticks was developed by artist Eugene Sargent as part of Amazeum's Makers-in-Residence program.
Artists, scientists and engineers are part of the program, which "conceptualizes participatory art, science, nature, technology experiences," said Sam Dean, Amazeum executive director, at the Advertising and Promotions Commission on Thursday.
The commission approved 5-0 to use the remaining $25,000 allocated for public art this year to make PoGlow Sticks a reality.
PoGlow Sticks includes a series of LED strips encased in acrylic tubes. The lights are set into motion when a sensor is tripped.
"The motions of light behave like bouncing balls by mathematically modeling the physics of real bounding balls," the project proposal states. "The behavior of the lights invite people to explore the causal relationship between the lights' motions and the triggering event and to play with the phenomenon to create interesting patterns of movement," the proposal states.
The museum experimented with a prototype during Crystal Bridges' Light Night in September, Dean said.
"As kids sort of separated and more adults were left, the adults were playing harder with it than the kids were," he said.
Dean showed commissioners two design concepts for the piece. One was two circles, one within the other, both with an entry. The lights would create more of a fountain shape.
The other concept was linear, where the lights would be more wave-like.
The concept implemented will depend largely on the location where it's installed, Dean said. Amazeum is working with the Parks and Recreation Department to determine the most suitable site.
The project is estimated to take between 13 to 19 weeks once it begins, which could be in December, according to the proposal.
It needs to be approved by the Parks Advisory Board and City Council before work can begin, said Kalene Griffith, Visit Bentonville president and CEO.
"It's phenomenal," she said of the piece. "It's very interactive."
Commissioners also appointed Luke Wetzel, owner and chef of Oven & Tap, to the commission.
Wetzel is taking the seat of Todd Darouse, owner of Honey Baked Ham, whose term expired. He served on the commission nine years.
Darouse reapplied for the position. Rob Nelson, chef and partner at Tusk & Trotter, also applied.
"It's been a long time since we've had three really good candidates that live in Bentonville," said Chris Sooter, commission chairman.
Wetzel said Oven & Tap and the city has benefited from Visit Bentonville's work and wanted to give back by serving on the commission.
"As a restaurateur, and as a mountain biker, and as a regular consumer out there in the market, I think I can bring something to the table of value to the team," he said.
Darouse said he's enjoyed his time on the commission and has seen the tax collections nearly double since he was first appointed.
Darouse brought experience and ideas to the commission, Griffith said.
"He's been very beneficial, and he's been good to our organization," she said.
NW News on 11/30/2018