City selects Eilers Park artists

Yesterday, the city’s Art in Public Places program commissioned Austin artists Ryah Christensen and Sun McColgin to create a permanent exterior artwork for Eilers Park. The project is expected to be completed in 2016 and has a budget of $56,400. According to a press release about the selection, “Christensen and McColgin are a husband and wife team who have been self-employed artists in Austin since 2000, working with a range of materials. As individual artists, both have previously received commissions for permanent public art from the City of Austin as part of the Second Street Streetscape Improvement Project.” The artists said, “In our studio practices, we make art that reflects our deep engagement with the natural world. As students of archaeology and history, we use our fascination with physical and cultural artifacts to create new, enduring stories that remind us of both our connection to the past and our roles in shaping the present and future. … We would like to create an artwork at this site that pays homage to the idea of Deep Eddy as a gift – from the earth to us, from Eilers to the City of Austin, from the City to everyone.” The Parks and Recreation Department has also begun a renovation of the play and picnic areas of the park. More information about that project can be found on the city’s website.