Red Bass, a new art installation that will celebrate Athens' varied musical roots, will go up in the Foundry Street plaza adjacent to the Akins Ford Arena that opened in December. The sculpture “celebrates Athens’ rich music scene…” acting as a reference to the history of music and performance. From Louis Armstrong’s frequent performances in Hot Corner to acting as the birthplace of the B-52s, the instrument will allude to multiple genres and musical time periods that have shaped and been shaped by Athens. It will also act as a herald to an equally rich musical future.
The Red Bass will face two large scale chairs to add a playful, interactive element to the artwork. The artist, Christopher Weed, was chosen by committee in a blind selection from a pool of 109 applicants from across the nation. His previous work is described as being magnetic, “exud[ing] strength in scale while maintaining a levity of attitude…”
Scheduled to be installed this month, the artwork is funded by Athens-Clarke County’s Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) and is facilitated by the ACC Leisure Services Arts Division.