Arts Continues to Find a Home in Suwanee

Public arts in Suwanee continues to draw involvement from the public.

The purchase of the Berlin Wall artifact on May 25 by a Suwanee businessman is the latest example of private involvement. Although the piece also easily could be termed as a historical artifact, it compares favorably with Suwanee's own 9/11 artifact as an artistic attraction with public appeal.

Also recently, a SculpTour 2012 piece was purchased by the city with funds donated by a local family.

According to a city news release, Suwanee residents Scott and Debra Dovel donated funds to the city's Public Arts Commission to allow the city to purchase and retain Pilgrim. Now, the wooden statue will remain on display in front of the Suwanee library branch on Main Street.

"We want to leave a better community for our kids and grandkids," Scott Dovel said in the release. "It's about leaving a foundation for others to build on. Whether my kids stay here or not, certainly my children will forever consider Suwanee their hometown."

City officials recognized the Dovels' effort at the May City Council meeting. City Manager Marty Allen said, "SculpTour has put us on the map in a number of ways. ... We hope to be able to amass a number of world class pieces, and we are not going to be able to do that without the public's help."

Other examples of public involvement in Suwanee arts include:

• The Rohloff family purchased Sunset, then donated the piece to the city. It now is located at Sims Lake Park;
• Advance Auto Parts purchased a SculpTour 2011 piece for display at its location on Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road;
• QuikTrip made a voluntary donation to the Public Arts Commission when it decided to keep some trees at its site that was developed from a residential home.

-- What SculpTour 2013 piece would you like to see stay in Suwanee permanently? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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