Neon City to become full-time installation near Wichita Falls' Circle Trail
As the Wichita Falls Circle Trail continues to grow closer to completion, the 25-plus mile hike-and-bike path, which helps to show off our colorful, diverse city, recently acquired a series of stunning neon geometric sculptures by way of Austin.
The “Neon City” public installation was constructed by a team of Austin artists and architects as part of a series for an annual short-term exhibit along the Austin’s Waterloo Greenway.
Becky Raeke, co-owner of 9th Street Studios and AmbeR Day Scott, director of 9th Street Studios, announced Neon City will become a full-time installation for Wichita Falls on the Circle Trail. The artwork is hung from the bottom of the pedestrian bridge at the Multi-Purpose Events Center (over the Circle Trail).
There will be an official unveiling ceremony at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the sculpture. The nearest parking lot is at 200 Lamar Street and walk on the Circle Trail to underneath the bridged crosswalk.
Admission is free and everyone is welcome, Raeke said.
"It mimics a skyline, but there are no distinctive architectural pieces,” Scott said. “The rectangles are different sizes and heights and are suspended downward and glowing. The best way to see it is on foot on the trail underneath the bridge.”
The installation was fabricated by MetalWorks Austin and is made up of thin-gauge steel, she said. The rectangles are coated in six different colors with paint that glows under blacklights installed under the bridge.
While the rectangular forms can be seen during the day, it will be far more impressive at night, said Raeke.
Scott said they initially heard about “Neon City” from artist connections they have developed over the past seven or so years.
“It started with Constance Y. White (who had shown at the studio and is the manager of Austin Art in Public Places)," Scott said.
The 9th Street Studios also worked with the Austin Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Wichita Falls Career Education Center Welding Program, the Wichita Falls Alliance for Arts and Culture, Wichita Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Wichita Falls Parks and Recreation Department.
The 9th Street Studios hosts a number of art shows each year, but this is their first permanent installation.
“We are flexible and when an opportunity arises, we have the option to pursue it and figure out to make it happen,” said Raeke.
The group made multiple trips to Austin to bring the colorful rectangles and its base to Wichita Falls. Once in town, they worked with a number of area organizations to determine where to install it.
Plenty of people run, walk and bicycle on the Circle Trail, Raeke said, and they want art to be where the people are.
“They need to have some beautiful to look at,” she said. “Obviously, nature is beautiful, but obviously it’s interesting to have something different to look at.”
The new Delta Hotel will also increase the traffic for the new installation.
The unveiling ceremony will be brief and will feature speakers from organizations that helped 9th Street Studios bring “Neon City” to Wichita Falls.
What: Official Neon City Unveiling Ceremony
When: 6 p.m. Wed., Nov. 8
Where: 200 Lamar Street (on the Wichita Falls Circle Trail, under the public bridge)
Admission is free, and everyone is welcome
Information: 9thstreetstudioswf@gmail.com or 9thStreetstudios.com/neon-city
This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Neon City to become full-time installation near Circle Trail
