New public art takes its place along Mercer Parkway

Three new pieces of public art took their places along Mercer Parkway Thursday, Sept. 3, as Farmers Branch crews installed the sculptures as part of the city’s West Side Art Trail.

Artist Stephen Lee was on hand for the installation, working alongside the Farmers Branch Parks and Recreation Department’s special projects crew as the sculptures were lifted into place and secured along Mercer Parkway between Luna Road and Valley View Lane.

The three works add to the collection of public art along the west side of Farmers Branch, where sculptures have been placed throughout the area to bring art outside traditional gallery spaces and into places residents see as they drive, walk and bike through the city.

Artist Stephen Lee of Frisco, who created the steel sculpture Multifaceted, said public art must be durable, strong, safe and easy to maintain and worked with a fabricator who has “an artist’s eye” to bring Multifaced to fruition.

“When it gets to large public art, I think there’s an expertise that needs to be maintained,” he said.

Farmers Branch Arts & Culture Committee member Chris Stephenson also watched the installation. He helped with the final placement selection and said he thinks everyone will be happy with how these pieces turned out. He’d like to see more art pieces added all around Farmers Branch.

“I’m impressed that we’re making the effort to add arts and culture,” he said. “I love these pieces so I’m glad they’re out where the public can enjoy them.”

The installations are part of the West Side Art Trail, an ongoing effort to place public art throughout the western portion of Farmers Branch.

_{Local News Matters.}