Trash Trout, provided by Asheville GreenWorks
The City of Asheville invites the community to celebrate the unveiling of new public art installations at 3 p.m. Nov. 30. The event will start at Jean Webb Park at 30 Riverside Drive, and end at the Craven Street Boat Launch at 190 Riverside Drive. The purpose is to highlight the greenway, art and the community.
During the celebration, Poetry Pathways will unveil a poem installation on the 13 Bones Bridge. Written by local artist Cleaster Cotton, the project was rendered by the team at STEAM – UNCA. The team created an aluminum cut out on 13 Bones Bridge of Cleaster Cotton’s poem. This is the first installment of Poetry Pathways, a concept by Laurie Wilcox-Meyer and Alida Woods. The project was funded by the Asheville Area Arts Council. The intent is to celebrate local poets and to put poetry in the public eye.
Afterwards, Asheville GreenWorks will unveil a large metal sculpture created by local artist, David Earl Tomlinson. Nicknamed the Big Fish, the sculpture uses art to bring awareness to viewers about water quality programs like Asheville GreenWorks’ Trash Trout, which keeps thousands of pounds of trash out of the French Broad River every year. The creation of this artwork and surrounding education signage was developed with support from Duke Energy Watershed Resources Fund, the Historic Cotton Mill Studios, Biltmore Iron and Metal, the City of Asheville and others.
Attendees will also be able to walk the future section of riverfront greenway, located between the railroad trestle bridge and the 14 Riverside Drive Arts and Culture Center (now 8 River Arts Place). This new greenway is part of the River Arts District Transportation Improvement Project (RADTIP).
This celebration is a public event and all are encouraged to attend. The program will begin at 3 p.m. at Jean Webb Park. After the ceremony guests can head over to the Boat House at Smoky Park Supper Club for sips and snacks to celebrate this milestone of riverfront redevelopment.
