'Taking Flight' public art unveiling ceremony

Vienna’s public art program to take off with unveiling
of ‘Taking Flight’ statue this Saturday
               
The Town of Vienna will unveil its inaugural piece of public art, a bronze statue that stands more than 7 feet tall, at a public ceremony at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, November 4, at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry Street SE.
 
Texas artists Seth and Missy Vandable created the $39,000 “Taking Flight” statue, which features a boy and girl playing atop a stack of books. Funded entirely through private donations, the statue, which was commissioned in memory of late Mayor Jane Seeman and in honor of Vienna volunteers, is the first permanent project undertaken by the Town’s Public Art Commission. The statue will be installed in front of the community center.
 
Nearly 60  individuals and groups have provided about $45,000 in contributions for the statue and its base through the Mayor Jane Seeman Memorial Committee, Movers and Shakers (Friends of Public Art) fundraiser, and Vienna Public Art Commission.
 
Vice Mayor Linda Colbert believes that her mother, Jane Seeman, who served as mayor for 14 years before passing away in 2014, would be humbled to be honored, along with other community volunteers, with a piece of public art. “Mom loved seeing people out and about and gathering. She loved to see the community gather, and a piece of art does that – it attracts people to it. She would be so excited and delighted to see Vienna’s first piece of public art.”
 
The statue will travel, along with the artists, from Cedar Hill, Texas, to Vienna this week with installation expected to take place on Friday. Saturday’s unveiling ceremony is open to the public.