Public Art Commission in Redmond Wants to Hear Your Vision for Future Public Art

For many in Central Oregon, the mention of Redmond evokes one of the city’s most-celebrated works of public art.

Standing 30 feet tall, the Art Deco-inspired aluminum sculpture “Thoughts of Flight,” completed by local artist Jerry Werner and a small team in 2012, honors the importance of the Redmond Municipal Airport – Roberts Field. It’s nearly impossible to drive through Redmond on Highway 97 at the Eastern Y Gateway without glimpsing the sculpture. A breeze rotates the wind cups above the sculpture’s visage. It’s a Central Oregon beacon that wishes air travelers well and welcomes them home with the same spirit.

It’s iconic public art like this that the Redmond Commission for Arts in Public Places wants to foster for generations to come.

But what do you hope to see?

“Thoughts of Flight” by local artist Jerry Werner, located at Eastern Y Gateway in Redmond. Credit: Courtesy: RCAPP Facebook

Murals, sculptures, creative public spaces including interactive art and sanctioned graffiti walls are all on the table.

To gather public input, RCAPP has launched an online Community Public Art survey to gauge folks’ awareness of public art, where they’d like to see more installations (downtown, neighborhoods, parks or in roundabouts) and what shape they’d like future installations to take.

Here’s a collection of Redmond’s public art.

About 25 questions, all multiple choice, give the public — even those who don’t live in Redmond — the opportunity to guide RCAPP in its artistic mission: Can you recall at least one public art display in Redmond? Have you ever visited a town specifically to see public art?

“Sirocco,” by artist Jan Van Ek. Visit Sirocco in downtown Redmond on the corner of 6th and Deschutes. Credit: City of Redmond

Additionally, those wanting to roll up their sleeves can apply for one of two RCAPP commission seats. Commissioners are volunteers who live within the Redmond School District boundary and are appointed by the mayor. Applications can be found on the City’s website. One seat is reserved specifically for youth applicants. In a press release, RCAPP said it hopes to involve a younger voice in conversations about art, community spaces and what the future generations want Redmond to look like.

Questions can be sent to the staff liaison at Claressa.Davis@redmondoregon.gov.