A sign, shade structure and sundial - designed and crafted by students of the Kennesaw State University (KSU) Master Craftsman Program - have been opened to the public in a collaboration with Kennesaw city officials.
The public art installations are in the city’s Gateway Park, a pocket park at the corner of Sardis Street and South Main Street.
“We are very excited to have been given the opportunity by the city to completely outfit Gateway Park,” said KSU Master Craftsman Program Coordinator Page Burch. “It allowed us to work on our largest scale to date with these three pieces.
“The design of the pieces complement each other nicely and present a uniform aesthetic to the park,” added Burch who designed and fabricated the sun dial and Gateway Park sign.
The shade structure was built by KSU Master Craftsman students Carrie McDaniel, Randy Kooistra, Manuel Simonet, Ellen Foose-Kutty, Tess Foose-Kutty, Alyssa Smith, Brooke Barrett, Hannah Bumgarner and Daniel Barnard and designed by Jonathan Copeland.
“What an opportunity for the Master Craftsman Program students at Kennesaw State University to be recognized for their creativity and talent,” said Kennesaw Mayor Derek Easterling. “In addition, the experience gained through their collaborative efforts with the city has encouraged other businesses and students to join forces in showcasing art and building relationships throughout the community. Personally, I am looking forward to what’s next.”
The sign, shade structure and sundial are the third phase of the partnership between the city and the KSU Master Craftsman Program, according to a city statement.
The city unveiled student-designed and fabricated benches at the Southern Museum and City Hall in November 2017 and eight decorative manhole covers at the City Hall Plaza in March.
This opportunity gives students the real-world experience of going through the public art commission process, including selection, fabrication and installation.
Additional art pieces will be installed in late summer that will include additional decorative manhole covers and benches.
