City of Sarasota seeking comments as it continues its downtown artwork initiative
As the City of Sarasota continues to test the idea of displaying artwork on pedestrian crosswalks in the downtown area, crews with the Public Works Department recently painted the crosswalk in the 1500 block of Main Street near Smokin’ Joe’s, City Manager Tom Barwin reported in his Feb. 14 newsletter.
The work was completed, he wrote, “during the wee hours” of that morning.
“The design is a simple display of vertical bars painted in a spectrum of colors symbolizing Sarasota as a welcoming community,” Barwin continued. “Similar designs have been fabricated in crosswalks in cities around the country, and this one in downtown Sarasota is timely,” he added, with the Embracing Our Differences art exhibit on display at nearby Bayfront Park through April 5.
A Feb. 19 email blast from Joshua Beadle, founder and editor of SarasotaOUT, praised city leaders for the design. “This is a huge accomplishment for our community and I’m so proud of Sarasota!” he wrote.
In his newsletter, Barwin added, “As our special city on the cultural arts coast becomes more pedestrian-friendly, we’ll continue to explore creative uses of space, such as crosswalks, to engage and stimulate walkers. Let us know your thoughts at CityNews@SarasotaFL.Gov.”