Merrick-Moore Park Public Art

Project Background


The City of Durham's Cultural and Public Art Program and Durham Parks and Recreation (DPR) have commissioned artists to create public art that fosters a unique sense of place based on community-informed designs for Merrick-Moore Park on Hoover Road. 

The public art project’s goal is to center the community throughout the design and fabrication process. Initial community engagement indicates preference for artwork that: is interactive, uses natural elements, is functional and reflects local history.    

The artists will work to:  

  • Design, fabricate and install sculptural, functional artwork and/or incorporate public art that is integrated into the site based on community-informed designs. 
  • Lead, plan, and facilitate an engagement process to solicit community input on public art with at least two (or more) community sessions, prior to submission of design concept(s).   
    • Sessions should include in-person or virtual community conversations, an online element (i.e. survey, community board, etc.) and at least one on-site event.  
    • Additionally, artist should participate in at least two community engagement sessions hosted by Durham Parks and Recreation.    
    • Based on initial engagement, the public art piece(s) may  
      • Connect visually to local history;  
      • Beautify the site through site-specific, functional public art amenities; and/or  
      • Contain interactive elements for adults and children.  

As the City of Durham improves public amenities through the Capital Improvement Plan projects (CIP), the Cultural & Public Art Program can provide public art for New Athletic Park at Hoover Road Background. For the FY 2020-25 CIP, capital projects are funded through impact fees, enterprise funds, grants, the capital project fund, pay-go funding, and debt financings. More information about the CIP process and funding can be found here: https://durhamnc.gov/223/Capital-Improvement-Plan-CIP. 

Merrick-Moore Park Background

On Thursday, October 2020, Durham Parks and Recreation (DPR) broke ground on a new athletic park, located at 632 North Hoover Road. The 50-acre site is in east Durham across from the Wheels Fun Park. The Merrick-Moore Park features four lighted natural turf multipurpose fields, parking with charging capability for E-Cars, a 3,000 square foot picnic shelter with ceiling fan and restroom building. Additional park amenities, including a playground, art sculptures, and walking trails, will be installed by early 2023.

Proposed Timeline


Friday, November 12, 2021: RFQ Release (open for 9 weeks)
Thursday, January 13, 2022 at 11:59 PM EST: RFQ Deadline 
Summer/Fall 2022: Design Development and Stakeholders engagement  
Fall 2022: Final Designs shared with the Stakeholders  
Late Fall 2022: Candidates submit Final Designs to City for final approval  
Spring 2023: Fabrications
Late Summer 2023: Installation 

LOCATION


632 North Hoover Road
Durham, NC 27703

Hoover Road Site Plan_for release_reduced

Design Concepts

Silhouette and Shape of Merrick-Moore Park public art

Merrick-Moore Park Public Art Design Concept

Pictured above is the design concept of the public art for Merrick-Moore Park. The artwork will feature bench seating, images and historical information about the Merrick-Moore neighborhood. The public art will be made with steel framework, panels with mosaic applications, and cut steel panels. Positioned at the entrance to the park, the artwork will welcome visitors as a landmark that shares the story of the neighborhood. 

ARTIST Team


Jeannette Brossart and Aaron Earley

Jeannette Brossart has been a professional mosaic artist for twenty years, and has lived in Durham, NC since 2005. She was initially a self taught artist, with a BA from UNCCH, but has had key learning experiences along the way. Her first solo exhibits were hosted at the Mangum House at West Point On The Eno and The Scrap Exchange.  Her work includes public murals, large scale sculpture, custom installations, gallery, and garden art. Jeannette has received numerous awards, appeared in publications, as has designed and facilitated over 200 workshops and residencies for participants from preschool to senior citizens. Utilizing recycled and repurposed materials is important for Jeannette, and she understands the global benefits of taking advantage of these items in her creative process. Jeannette is a professional teaching artist, selected for The Lincoln Center Education program in 2016, and International Teaching Artist Conference in 2018, 2020, and 2022. During the pandemic, Jeannette founded the League of NC Teaching Artists. She is active in local schools, facilitating mosaic art murals, and curriculum based projects. 

Visit her website at www.mothernaturemosaics.com.

Aaron Earley was born and raised in Fayetteville, NC, and is currently a sculptor and illustrator based in Durham, NC. He attended East Carolina University and earned a BFA in Sculpture, Painting and Drawing. In 2018, Aaron and two partners purchased the sculpture fabrication company Cricket Forge, LLC, to continue building careers that would allow for daily creative exercise, collaboration with others, and provide unique opportunities to create larger, more complex work. 

Visit Cricket Forge's website at www.cricketforge.com.

Artist Selection Process


The public art project used a Request for Qualification (RFQ) application process. From the pool of applicants, a panel of community members, artists, and City staff reviewed the artists' applications and selected the artists/artist team. RFQ deadline was Thursday, January 13, 2022 by 11:59 PM EST

For information, please review the RFQ Document here. 

Hoover Road RFQ Opens in new window


Questions?

For information about the public art project, please contact the Cultural & Public Art Program staff here: 

Rebecca Brown
Cultural & Public Arts Program Manager
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 919-560-4197, ext. 21245