By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
On the heels of the recent adoption of an ordinance pertaining to public artwork throughout Whitewater, city officials have unveiled plans to form a committee dedicated to addressing issues under the broad topic.
The Common Council adopted the actual ordinance in August and, as a next step, voted on Nov. 17 to form a committee. The specific composition of the panel’s membership remains up in the air, though it likely will have a mix of residents and at least one elected representative from the council.
When the committee is officially formed in 2016, members will begin putting in motion some of the components within the ordinance, including offering up recommendations of how public artwork can be best integrated into the city’s parks, greenbelts and other public locations.
Other specific issues could include reviews of how public artwork fits cohesively into the surrounding environment, including nearby buildings, and how a specific piece reflects the historical character of the particular site.
Additionally, the committee will take up issues aimed at enhancing interest in public spaces throughout Whitewater.
City officials have offered widespread support for public artwork — a point best demonstrated in the municipal ordinance adopted this summer.
Language in the legal document, in part, states, “Community art strengthens public places and enhances and promotes Whitewater’s identity as a livable and creative city and a desirable place to live, work and visit.”
One of the goals behind the ordinance is to involve local artists in the decision-making process — particularly as planning involving the design, implementation and integration of specific pieces enters the equation.
