Arts & Cultural Commission Hosts Sculpture Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 1, 2017

ST. HELENS ARTS & CULTURAL COMMISSION HOSTS SALMON TREE CYCLE SCULPTURE RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY

St. Helens, Ore. – On Thursday, September 21 at 6 p.m., the St. Helens Arts & Cultural Commission (ACC) will host a community ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the installation of the Salmon Tree Cycle Sculpture Project and to honor those who contributed to the project’s success.

Julie Vigeland, incoming board member for the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies and past chair of the Oregon Arts Commission, will be a special guest speaker at the event. The ceremony will be held in the parking lot of Columbia Veterinary Clinic at 35645 Firlok Park Boulevard. Attendees can park in the vacant lot behind the Dollar Tree. St. Helens Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) crossing guards will be available to help guests safely cross the street to the ceremony.  Light food and refreshments will be provided.

The Salmon Tree Cycle Sculpture Project is a continuation of the ACC’s two-phased Gateway Sculpture Project. Phase 1 was completed in 2014 with the installation of two metal obelisk sculptures at the northern entrance of St. Helens on the Highway 30 Milton Creek Bridge. Phase 2, the Salmon Tree Cycle, is located at the southern entrance of St. Helens on the Highway 30 McNulty Creek Bridge, just south of Gable Road.

The Gateway Sculpture Project aligns with nationally-recognized placemaking strategies and local economic development initiatives. By marking both entrances to the St. Helens community with unique landmarks, visitors and locals are encouraged to slow down, explore the community, and connect with St. Helens’ unique heritage.

As part of the Salmon Tree Cycle project, an interpretive sign honoring significant donors will be installed on the north side of the McNulty Creek Bridge next to the sidewalk. Installation of the sign is scheduled after the ribbon cutting ceremony.

The Salmon Tree Cycle sculptures were designed by regionally-renowned artists Rhiza A+D. The artists were selected through a public Request for Proposals that was open from May to June 2015. A public hearing for the design was held on September 2015 where the artists had an opportunity to discuss the design and answers questions from the public. Rhiza A+D’s design represents the intrinsic relationship between salmon, trees and water. For more information about the sculptures and the design, visit www.salmontreecycle.com.

This project was successfully funded through a multi-year fundraising effort led by the ACC with support from the City. This effort included organizing a Kickstarter campaign, soliciting private donors and writing grants. The actual project cost of the Salmon Tree Cycle project is estimated at $58,028, not including in-kind contributions.  The estimated total value of the project, including in-kind contributions from businesses, ACC volunteers, the Oregon Department of Transportation, and City staff is valued at $99,537. A complete finalized budget will be available when the project is completed with the installation of the interpretive signage.

Established in 2005, the ACC is a City of St. Helens commission made up of community volunteers dedicated to improving the livability of St. Helens by encouraging the recognition of arts and culture. In the past six years alone, the ACC fundraised to design, fabricate and install artistic benches, bike racks, and cultural banners throughout the community. The ACC has also hosted free art workshops for children, annual trash can painting competitions, and summer art shows.

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For further information regarding the Salmon Tree Cycle Sculpture Project Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, please contact City of St. Helens Associate Planner Jenny Dimsho at jdimsho@ci.st-helens.or.us or 503-366-8207.