New public art in a Boise park is expected to create an ‘icon.’ Here are the choices
Boise is down to two options for new public art in a downtown park.
As part of the development of the Westside Urban Park, located at the corner of 11th and Bannock streets downtown, Boise’s Arts and History department chose upstate New York artist Matthew Mazzotta to create public artwork for the park.
The park is being developed in conjunction with the construction of a 10-story office building at the corner of 11th and Idaho streets, being built by Boise developer Rafanelli & Nahas.
Mazzotta, a Guggenheim Fellow whose work has appeared around the nation, proposed two potential pieces for the city’s consideration. He said in his notes that he wanted to create a domestic space — a “living room” — in the urban space. He wanted his proposals to be whimsical and playful, “functional spaces” that bring people “wonder and joy.”
The first proposal, called Night Light, would be a large, house-shaped structure that would glow when it is dark outside.
The idea is to create a “homey” or “campfire” environment even in the middle of a downtown space, according to Mazzotta’s notes. It would be surrounded with large, colorful faux trees that lead into the green space in the park. People could walk around inside the installation or use it as a place to sit.
It is similar to another of Mazzotta’s works, called the Cloud House. In that installation, which is located at a farmers market in Springfield, Missouri, a similar house-shaped structure has a large, built-in cloud overhead.
The second option is called Gentle Breeze. According to renderings, it would be a large fake tree with pink leaves that dangle and sway in the wind, and benches around it. Mazzotta says the idea is to document the “essence of slow pace.” The aesthetic is listed as an ”oasis and childlike experience.”
According to the original request for qualifications Boise put out when it was seeking artists, the goal of the art installation is to create an “icon of Boise” and a landmark for the surrounding neighborhood.
Other features of the park, according to designs in the request, will be several cooling features, shared between trees and a fog feature located in the same corner as the art installation.
According to the Capital City Development Corp., Boise’s urban renewal arm that is helping to fund the park, it will also have public restrooms, space to store bikes and shaded seating.
The public was offered a chance to weigh in on the project through an online survey that was set to close Friday, July 31.
Mazzotta will be paid up to $200,000 to put in the project, and estimates from CCDC say the park in total will cost about $3.4 million. Construction is expected to begin in October.
This story was originally published July 31, 2020 at 12:03 PM.
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