Crown Unveils Gaithersburg’s 24th Art in Public Space (PHOTOS & VIDEO)

The Crown development unveiled a 750-pound bronze sculpture called “Inner Being” Tuesday, marking the City of Gaithersburg’s 24th piece of public art.

Charles Strain created the 8-foot bronze sculpture that is a looping figure on the corner of Fields Road and Decoverly Drive. The artwork is encircled by brick columns. Strain said he used a hanger to create the shape and then replicated that shape using bronze.

Shellie Williams, arts administrator for the City of Gaithersburg, said public art pieces are a cultural component of the city.

“They become focal places and meeting places,” she said. Four additional pieces of public art are expected to be unveiled in the city in the near future. There is one to be online by February in The Vistas section of  the Quince Orchard Park community which is a figurative sculpture, according to Williams. A second sculpture is to be at Parklands at Watkins Mill. That is described by Williams as a piece of  artwork by David Turner and it is called “The Box Turtle” named for a colony of box turtles living in that area. A train-themed bike rack is planned for an area near the Gaithersburg Community Museum and Silver Spring sculptor Jay Carpenter is now working on a sculpture of former mayor Ed Bohrer to be installed at Archstone in Gaithersburg, according to Williams.

Newly sworn-in Mayor Jud Ashman called public art a “key component” in the community.

“Gaithersburg has long recognized the value of public art in enhancing and engaging our city and we are very pleased to welcome this inspiring sculpture to our public art collections,” he said. “We love that Crown is recognizing many artists and innovators with its street names and we look forward to more good things to come from this dynamic new community.

About Krista Brick

Krista Brick is a multi-media journalist with Montgomery Community Media.

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