What happened to those artistic faux road signs in downtown DeLand? Here's what we know
DELAND — For visitors to downtown DeLand’s business district, the “road signs” along Woodland Boulevard at Georgia Avenue serve a more spiritual purpose than designating speed limits or turn signals.
The cluster of colorful signs, designed to resemble authentic markers for diamond-shaped warning signs, interstate and U.S. highways instead offer an assortment of uplifting messages for anyone who passes:
“Breathe.”
“All We Have Is NOW.”
“U R OK.”
On another, the “INFINITE CLEARANCE” is posted beneath a yellow diamond-shaped sign that bears the figure-eight mathematical symbol for infinity.
Recently, however, the artistic street signs — part of the popular DeLand Sculpture Walk program — were removed, causing concern among DeLand residents on Facebook social media groups.
“What happened to these signs? Loved them!” posted Dani Sheldon on Facebook’s DeLand FL Community Page, expressing the sentiments of others.
Here’s what we know:
What happened to artistic 'street signs' in downtown DeLand?
Some residents commenting on a Facebook post about the missing signs offered the theory that the art had been removed temporarily during work on an FDOT project related to a nearby parking lot near the intersection at Woodland Boulevard and Georgia Avenue.
That intersection is a popular gathering spot anchored by Cafe DaVinci, Persimmon Hollow Brewing Co. and DeLand’s Artisan Alley, among other local businesses along Georgia Avenue.
For once, the Facebook masses were on the money, according to John Wilton, chair of the public art committee at the Museum of Art — DeLand.
Wilton said he was contacted by the owners of the parking lot next to where the work, titled “Road Sign Triptych,” stands to let him know that the piece needed to be removed until the road work was done.
“They told me that DOT was coming through to do some curb work or entrance work to the parking lot there and we had to get those out of there,” Wilton said. “They’ve been put safely in storage and once DOT completes whatever task they’re doing there, they will be returned as near to the original location as possible.”
Wilton acknowledged that after a couple months, local residents are starting to be concerned about the fate of the signs. Although works in the DeLand Sculpture Walk typically are rotated out every few years, that won’t be the case with the “Road Sign Triptych,” he said.
“We will not rotate those signs out because the (DeLand) Museum of Art owns them,” he said. “They are part of the permanent sculpture walk collection.”
What’s the story of the artistic 'street signs'?
The cluster of faux traffic signs with calming messages is a piece by Scott Froschauer of Sun Valley, Calif.
The faux road signs are among 11 works that debuted throughout downtown DeLand in 2019 as part of the DeLand Sculpture Walk project. The sculpture walk, a collaboration between the Museum of Art — DeLand and the city, started in 2010 and typically changes out pieces every year or two.
What other works are part of the DeLand Sculpture Walk?
Earlier this year, a dozen new pieces of art were added the collection of outdoor public art as part of the DeLand Sculpture Walk.
The new additions are:
"The Single Twist," an aluminum piece by Mary Angers, of Long Branch, New Jersey. It stands next to DeLand City Hall at the southwest corner of South Florida and West New York avenues.
"Organic Geometry," a steel piece by Joe Chirchirillo, of North Bennington, Vermont. It stands next to Chess Park off West New York Avenue.
"A Novel Idea," a granite piece by C.R. Gray, of Key West, Florida. It stands off West Indiana Avenue near the Half Wall restaurant.
"Vault," a plastic and metal piece by Jeffery Repko, of Atlanta, Georgia. It stands next to the Museum of Art ― DeLand off North Woodland Boulevard.
"Outer Reach," an aluminum piece by Harry McDaniel, of Asheville, North Carolina. It stands at the northeast corner of North Woodland Boulevard and East Ohio Avenue.
"Nesting," a steel piece by Adam Walls, of Tryon, North Carolina. It stands off East Rich Avenue between North Woodland Boulevard and North Alabama Avenue.
"Butterfly Enchanter," an iron, resin and stoneware piece by Aldo Muzzarelli, of Mauldin, South Carolina. It stands in Pioneer Park at the southeast corner of North Woodland Boulevard and East Rich Avenue.
"Twin Souls," an aluminum and stainless steel piece by Gus and Lina Ocamposilva, of Oldsmar. It stands off East Indiana Avenue between North Woodland Boulevard and North Alabama Avenue.
"IPO 004," an aluminum, steel and granite piece by Robert Coon, of Vero Beach. It stands off the DeLand Greenway at the northwest corner of the intersection of East New York and North Alabama avenues.
"Florida Springs I," a bronze and glass piece by Judith Greavu, of Bluffton, Ohio. It stands off South Woodland Boulevard in front of Mainstreet Community Bank of Florida.
"Faith," a steel piece by Adam Walls, of Tryon, North Carolina. It stands at the northeast corner of South Florida and West Howry avenues.
"Glockenspiel," a steel and aluminum piece by Jarod Charzewski, of Charleston, South Carolina. It stands off West Georgia Avenue in front of Cafe DaVinci.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Colorful faux road sign art is gone in DeLand. What happened to it?
