ArtMeters unveiled downtown

Suny Monk, executive director of the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, handled master of ceremonies duties standing atop a tree stump in Amherst’s downtown minipark.

As an Amherst ArtMeters Project volunteer and leader, she presided over the unveiling of 22 parking meters-turned-street art. Town officials and project volunteers, sponsors and artists also were on hand.

Stretched along Main Street, the parking meters stood covered in white wrappers and red ribbons, resembling tall, skinny lollipops.

In the crowd of more than 100 at the July 8 event, people munched meter-shaped cookies and sipped lemonade as Monk explained how the Town Council faced a quandary in 2008 — what to do with the business district’s outdated penny parking meters. Although the meters were defunct, their posts were still needed to hold flags on holidays.

Inspired by similar projects in other cities, Monk and a group of residents formed a committee with the idea of turning the meters into a sidewalk art gallery. The Town Council had the “confidence and vision” to quickly sign on to the proposal, she said, and it was approved in January for a two-year period.

Donors sponsored the meters for $100 each for one year and local artists submitted designs with the theme, “What I Love about Amherst,” for approval by a jury. Sponsors could choose an approved artist, choose an artist to go through the jury process or let the ArtMeters volunteers choose one for them. Small plaques recognizing the artist and sponsors are affixed to the meters.

The committee selected proposals to refurbish 22 of the town’s dozens of meters in 2009. The rest will be painted next year to replace the older ones, with a new annual theme.

Monk yielded the stump to Mayor Jacob Bailey, who thanked the ArtMeters committee, noting it is another example of local citizen involvement that makes the town what it is.

“Amherst depends on volunteers to a great extent,” he said, and the “people who do so much to keep Amherst beautiful and distinct” are among the community’s greatest assets.

The mayor also introduced Sweet Briar College’s new president, Jo Ellen Parker, who took office July 1. It was the first official introduction to the town for Parker and her husband, Rick Manasa. They were there to unveil two meters sponsored by the College.

Town Manager Jack Hobbs, an early supporter of the project, spoke of its benefits to Amherst. Even in Lynchburg, he said, people were talking about the meters — which at this point were still shrouded in their wrappers.

Back on the stump, Monk acknowledged the sponsors, artists and other volunteers individually before dispersing people to their appointed meters to await a signal. When the horn blasted from the town’s new fire engine — so new the temporary tags were still on it — everyone removed the coverings.

The artists’ designs range from Luis Lozano’s depiction of the courthouse and county seal to Terrie Linton’s representation of a fish and include such iconic landmarks such as the traffic circle.

“They really do speak to what is very, very special about our town,” Monk said.

New and returning sponsors and artists will have a chance to support the project in 2010, when the theme will be “The Town of Amherst — 100 years.” The town celebrates its centennial next year.

Speaking later by phone, Monk said the existing meters might be moved to side streets to make room for new ones.

The sponsorship fee includes $50 for artists’ supplies and $50 for the recognition plaques and other administrative costs. Artists can choose to donate their materials and time.

Artists must submit an application, including drawings of the finished meter, for review by an artistic panel that will evaluate quality, suitability and relationship to the theme. Approved designs are then evaluated by a “practicality” panel for weather resistance and durability, to ensure the meter will look good for at least a year.

The meters have to be appropriate for display on city streets, Monk said, and the committee will do everything it can to maintain them in the case of vandalism or weathering.

“Nothing’s worse than shabby, worn-out street art,” she said. “Town Council went out on a limb (to approve the project) and we promised to try to do the right thing.”

Applications for 2010 will be available in December from the town’s Web site, http://www.amherstva.gov, from an ArtMeter volunteer or by writing to ArtMeters, P.O. Box 1046, Amherst, VA 24521.