UNC Asheville Students Create Public Art;
Sculpture Garden Installed at Merrimon Ave. Carwash

Local businessman Scott Shealy had a dilemma at one of his businesses, carwash Citi Stop Laser Wash on Merrimon Avenue. As cars progressed through the wash, water and chemicals escaped through openings in the building, destroying the city-mandated landscaping along the building’s exterior.

But Shealy, vice president of Citizens Fuel Company, found a solution. Familiar with UNC Asheville’s community involvement, Shealy contacted the University’s Art Department and proposed a project for interested students -- a sculpture garden, placed where the original garden was meant to rest.

“I didn’t want to keep planting plants along the carwash, because that would be fruitless,” said Shealy. “I thought commissioning a sculpture would give students a fun project to showcase their talents and give us a nice-looking exterior to our business.”

UNC Asheville seniors Sandgren Dinkel and Melissa Engler, under the guidance of art professor Dan Millspaugh, were up for the challenge. Both senior art majors, Dinkel and Engler, used cast aluminum, cast bronze and copper pipe to construct the piece, “The Lost Foam Landscape,” which the students installed last week.

“The project combines abstract sculpture with organic, plant-like forms, in keeping with the original purpose of the garden,” said Dinkel.

The project emphasizes the student’s love of public art and their belief in its importance.

“We feel that public sculpture is important because it brings art and creativity into the everyday,” said Engler. “We especially like organic, abstract forms because they break up the monotony of the geometric shapes found in most architecture.”

Shealy agrees. “Public art is great,” he said. “It’s a great way to showcase UNC Asheville student’s talents, and the Citi Stop on Merrimon Avenue is a great place in which to showcase those talents.”

Media Contacts:

• Dan Millspaugh, UNC Asheville Art Professor, 828/251-6877
• Jill Yarnall, UNC Asheville Public Information Assistant Director, 828/251-6526