Billboard art program brightening area freeways
Connie Cronenwett's billboard
Public art has found an unlikely new venue in Washtenaw County: freeway billboards.
A new effort by Adams Outdoor Advertising, called "Art in the Sky," offers local artists space on the company's signs to display their work. The program debuted recently with three billboards on I-94 and US-23.
AOA Real Estate Manager Shannon Bellers and local artist Elizabeth Schwartz came up with the idea, according to a press release. The company sees the artistic project as an extension of its efforts to donate space to nonprofit groups, and said it can both bring art to those who might not visit galleries and also provide good exposure to local talent.
“We would like to potentially expand the program throughout our Ann Arbor market counties and even further into our other Michigan markets,” said Bellers, possibly even to the point of a juried "mobile art show." “The feedback we have received from artists and the Ann Arbor community at large has been overwhelmingly positive.”
The 14-feet-by-48-feet artworks will rotate around Adams billboards as space is available, the company said. The vinyl on which the works are constructed is expected to last about a year, depending on weather and other conditions.
The three signs currently part of the program:
• Elizabeth Schwartz, I-94 near Chelsea, facing east. • Lynda Cole, I-94 west of Belleville Road (near Willow Run Airport), facing east. • Connie Cronenwett, US-23 north of Milan, facing south.
Lynda Cole's billboard
Adams Outdoor Advertising
Cole's website includes some photos from the installation of her work. AOA plans to keep its Facebook page updated with current information on the project.
“Seeing my work on such a large scale, and knowing that others will see it as well, is quite a thrill,” said Schwartz in the press release. “I'm thankful to Adams for this exciting public art project, and look forward to seeing more ‘Art in the Sky.’" All three of the initial artists are affiliated with the WSG Gallery in Ann Arbor, but Adams welcomes applications from other artists for future installations.
Elizabeth Schwartz's billboard
Adams Outdoor Advertising
The artist pays the cost of the vinyl, and Adams donates the space. The company is working on an application process; for now, Washtenaw-area artists interested may email Bellers at sbellers@adamsoutdoor.com; include full contact information and a website photo of original art. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Adams Outdoor Advertising has a local office on James L Hart Parkway in Ypsilanti.
Download a map of the first "Art in the Sky" sign locations.
Comments
julieswhimsies
Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 5:50 p.m.
So. Perhaps we should have the billboards completely removed from all highways and roadways. That would be fine with me. However, then you would have the usual suspects griping about the COSTS of removing these billboards. As long as these billboards remain, they might as well display public art, rather than advertising.
A2lover
Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 6:27 a.m.
In areas where the billboard blocks the natural art of nature being seen, just have the frame of the billboard and let nature speak for itself. Plus, the "picture" will change as time goes by, a movable painting so to speak.
Ann English
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 7:19 p.m.
The article doesn't say that art will be displayed only on billboards next to the freeways, so art could appear on the one on Maple just north of Dexter Road, or one next to Plymouth Road. When ALDI first opened on Dexter Road, the nearby billboard advertised it, so that more people would notice the new store right nearby.
Dog Guy
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 6:54 p.m.
Billboards? Michigan legislated them from freeway view decades ago. Would politicians lie?
Go Blue
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 6:30 p.m.
Stupidist thing I've seen in awhile. There are still drivers on the road texting (they seem to think other drivers cannot figure out that they are texting), on the phone, putting makeup on, etc. at speeds in excess of 70 MPH and we need more diversions and more distractions to make our roads even less safe? Bring back the billboard bandit please!!!!!! Get rid of this nonsense and let's try to keep our roads safer instead of even more dangerous.
Eric
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 6:23 p.m.
All billboards are either distracting, ugly, and/or carry poor messages. They all should be out lawed. In an age of the "media screen" in cars, on phones, and in all buildings and rooms we live in......why do we still need billboards littering our highways.
Z-man
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 5:21 p.m.
I don't see in the article where Mumbambu draws the conclusion that the billboard company gets any sort of tax break due to this program, nor do I get the impression from the article that these billboards are erected for the purpose of displaying artwork. The article DOES say that the artwork is displayed on an "as space is available," so I assume that artwork will only be displayed on existing billboards if nobody else is renting the space for paid advertising. I agree it would be silly to cover up a view for the sole purpose of displaying artwork, and it would be an unsustainable business model as well!
bedrog
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 4:54 p.m.
vermont...a place with a billboard ban...is the model all states with claims to scenic-ness should follow. indeed without billboards--even 'artistic ones'---scenery you didnt know was there miraculously appears.
Speechless
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 4:24 p.m.
As a socially sanctioned form of pollution, billboards litter our highways and streets. They're really only good for helping block the low sunlight for a moment when driving at an hour near to sunset or sunrise. The towering, in-your-face, larger-than-life display of slick commercial advertising recalls the Robert Zimmerman-penned line, "Money doesn't talk, it swears." Given the less than distinguished history of billboards, and given that many still exist along roadways, it's certainly more pleasant to see a few being repurposed largely for the aesthetic viewing pleasure of travelers — a drive-by gallery on a big stick. (Am now wondering if there might be a market for miniature bobblehead or bobblesign versions of these at a future Art Fair.) As noted, it's an amusing irony when a board hides natural scenery in order to display a painting of nature. That's something the surrealist artist Magritte may have appreciated. As for surreal art experiments using signage, years ago a city sign sporting a lighted, moving text message gamefully spent hours (?) trying to display 'all' the digits of mathematical pi.
Mumbambu, Esq.
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 3:45 p.m.
It's cool that local artists are getting reduced rates to promote their work. On top of that, Adams has fewer "See! You looked!" type signs AND gets a tax break. Win win win. Any distracted driving issues are there, almost regardless of what is on the billboard.
Ed B
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 3:40 p.m.
Won't that cause distracted driving? Will the Ann Arbor City Council write an ordinance that will result in ticketing drivers that look at the billboards?
bruno_uno
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 2:37 p.m.
only in michigan would they put artwork of a tree on a billboard that blocks the trees behind it.