City unveils new art, the first under 2009 policy

Like true Oregonians, a small crowd applauded the unveiling of a new piece of public art despite the pouring rain on Monday night at Fields Bridge Park.

The city revealed its first commissioned art under the Percent for Art policy that went into effect in 2009. The policy mandates that the city set aside 1.5 percent of public project costs for public art.

New restrooms and a concession stand at Fields Bridge spurred the public art project, allocating $2,800 for the public art.

The art selection committee chose Oregon City artist Ben Dye to create the piece, a large metal blue heron. Dye makes all of his work from recycled materials. The heron was created with metal from old barbecue grills. Dye said his art is all about giving back.

At the unveiling, Vicki Handy, a member of the selection committee and the parks and recreation advisory board, thanked the city council for having “the vision to bring in the beauty and the culture into our city.”

“I see this as a start of a vision. We’re making it a priority,” she said.

Handy said the art committee chose Dye and the blue heron because both reflect the values of the city and the landscape of the park, which is near the Tualatin River.