The artist's design is inspired by the Fort Worth Fire Department's (FWFD) and Fort Worth Police Department's (FWPD) collection of patches and celebrates the bond between members of these departments in Fort Worth and across the country.
Fabricated in one-inch thick, weathering corten steel, the overall form of the sculpture is based on the shape of FWFD's and FWPD's patches. The two patch forms lean together, supporting each other and expressing solidarity between the departments. The unique shapes of numerous patches collected by FWFD and FWPD will be water-jet cut into the steel, creating an overall pattern that will cast delicate shadows on the ground in front the Bob Bolen Public Safety Complex Administration Building entrance. The approximate size will be nine feet high by 12 feet long.
January 27, 2014, Artist Belize Brother was placed under a Preliminary Design contract (City Secretary Contract No. 45310).
Fort Worth Art Commission (FWAC) Action: On June 8, 2015, the FWAC approved artist's preliminary design for artwork and requested the artist choose a new, highly public and ADA accessible location for the artwork, in accordance with the expectations of City Council.
The Fort Worth Fire Department, Fort Worth Police Department, and Councilmember Zadeh support the new location. The City has agreed to remove a planter and bench at the front entrance of the Bob Bolen Public Safety Training Center to make more room for the sculpture in the new location.
On June 13, 2016, the FWAC re-approved artist's preliminary design for artwork and approved the new artwork location which is to the right of the entrance to the administration building, and recommended the artist proceed with final design. Under this contract, the artist will finalize the aesthetic design and provide a lighting plan and structural engineering. Upon approval of the final design, there will be an Mayor and Council Communication (M&C) brought to Council to authorize a commission contact under which the artist will fabricate, deliver, and install the artwork per the approved final design.
Funding for the final design and commission of the project has been allocated from the Public Art Fund, and the project was included in the Fort Worth Public Art Fiscal Year 2016 Annual Work Plan, adopted by the City Council on October 27, 2015, (M&C C-27515) as part of the City's Agreement with Contract Manager for administration of the public art program.
Project budget and funding sources are as follows: PROJECT BUDGET | | | Preliminary Design | $ 33,900.00 | | Final Design | $ 22,000.00 | | Commission | $ 294,100.00 | | Total | $ 350,000.00 |
| FUNDING SOURCES | AMOUNT | | Public Art Fund (subfund 98) | $ 350,000.00 | | Total | $ 350,000.00 |
M/WBE Office - The City's overall M/WBE goal for the Fort Worth Public Art Program is 25 percent of total capital project dollars expended on public art annually. |
