For the Reporter

What does a rabbit, a flower, and a feather have in common?

They are three of the six new sculptures that appeared in downtown Auburn last week.

Initiated in 2012, the outdoor Downtown Sculpture Gallery invites artists throughout the region to showcase their artwork. The sculptures are selected through a competitive application process, and the artwork is on temporary loan to the City for a year.

The sculptures on display are a diversity of styles and techniques including the modern painted steel Jump by Portland artist Francisco Salgado, the recycled and reclaimed metal sculptures of Organic by Jen Ellsworth, Watch my Tail by Patricia Vader, and Hare by Dan Klennert, and the fabricated steel mastery of Ken Hall in Origami #2 – Fuchsia and Kris Vermeer’s Feather.

All together, the sculptures create a unique experience to any downtown visitor.

As part of the 2012 Downtown Sculpture Gallery, votes were collected to determine a People’s Choice award. The artwork that received the most popular support through votes tallied this past year was Riparian Totem by Lin Rebolini McJunckin. The artwork will be purchased and permanently sited adjacent to the Auburn Justice Center, adding to the City’s public art collection.

A new People’s Choice will be determined for this new slate of sculptures.

Voting opportunities can be found online at the City’s Cultural Arts webpage or in City Hall Clerks Office.