Sierra Smith selected for public art display
Sierra Smith is one of six artists selected to create a piece of art as part of the Platte Valley Arts Council's public art display project. Smith will design a metal sculpture as a memorial in honor of Sergeant Tyler Pickett, a Saratoga veteran who lost his life in Iraq.
Smith's sculpture will reflect Pickett's sacrifice for the county while showcasing who he was as a soldier, Wyoming resident and person.
"It's important to me that the final piece be something Tyler would have been proud of and that his family will be proud of too,"said Smith.
Smith will work with Pickett's family to find pieces to contribute to the project, including anything that may have belonged to the soldier. Other materials Smith plans to include barbed wire, large rusted ironrings, and dated architectural metal pieces. Smith would also like to cut out metal shapes of a rifle and a helmet to represent Pickett's life as a soldier and a cowboy hat or other items reflective of Pickett's Wyoming lifestyle.
"My ultimate goal is to produce a piece of artwork that will enable those who see it to actually get a sense of who Tyler Pickett was and to appreciate his sacrifice," Smith said. "It is my hope that this piece might cause people to think not only about Tyler, but also the thousands of others who have lost their lives."
Smith’s piece will be placed in the new “Never Forget Park” on Pic Pike Road in Saratoga, next to Veterans Island Park.
Public Art Funding
PVAC will compensate each artist for their talents and the material needed to execute and install the piece of art. Funding for the public art displays comes from grants, business partners, and donations. The Platte Valley Public Art Project is supported in part by a grant from the Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund, a program of the Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources, the Wyoming Community Foundation, the Carbon County Visitors Council, and the Wyoming Business Council - Rural Development. Bridge Street Bargains in Saratoga also supports the project with a $5,000 grant.
PVAC has identified several locations for the public art displays considering ease of physical access by the public, the willingness of property owners to partner with PVAC for maintenance needs, and the relevanceof the artwork to the location.
Once the artists complete their pieces, PVAC will host a Grand Reveal Event in September.
PVAC will also launch a new website that will highlight the new public art pieces, existing murals, and other public art in the Platte Valley. Photos, descriptions, artist information, and a map indicating locations will be included. The website will be promoted through the Saratoga - Platte ValleyChamber of Commerce, restaurants and motels, and other public locations. The artwork will have permanent signage notating project donors and sponsors.
Those interested in supporting the Public Art Project can contribute here.
About Platte ValleyArts Council
The Platte Valley Arts Council (PVAC) is a membership-based nonprofit, incorporated in May 1993 to foster awareness and participation in any form of the arts to develop a vibrant and cohesive community. PVAC won the Wyoming Governor’s Art Award in 1997. PVAC demonstrates that art can be a partof our everyday lives.
