Local Artists Showcased in “Art on Fire” Pilot Program
Smiles were abundant at the Pineview Elementary School Fire Safety Week presentation and Art on Fire presentation. The Tallahassee Fire Department shared safety tips and KCCI introduced Art on Fire.
Colorful fire hydrants adorned with local artwork can now be spotted around the City of Tallahassee due to Art on Fire, a project where functional fire hydrants are transformed into local works of art thanks to the involvement of the Tallahassee Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and KCCI. This initiative raises awareness of the fire hydrants and interest in public art.
The Art on Fire pilot project enhances streetscapes and promotes a distinct sense of place,” said Stephen Cox, Executive Director of Tallahassee Community Redevelopment Agency. “In Tallahassee, we are committed to community enhancement and making art accessible for everyone, and this project furthers these efforts.”
This project engages people of all ages, ethnicities, and cultural backgrounds by broadening their exposure to, and interest in, public art. Each fire hydrant was painted by a local artist. Artists were selected through a free online application process that was open to all residents.
As part of Art on Fire five fire hydrants were painted, with four artistic fire hydrants in Railroad Square and one outside of Pineview Elementary School.
Locations include:
- In Railroad Square on Railroad Square Road artwork by Franzline Whaley, Robyn Ware, Sharard X Saddlers, Sherlyn Reyes
- Outside of Pineview Elementary School, at the intersection of Lake Bradford Road/Coleman Street directly in front of Pineview Elementary School, artwork by Direne Esparza Lorenzo and her daughter Sinai Muniz Esparza.
Art on Fire was envisioned by Team 4 of the City of Tallahassee’s New Public Servant Initiative Program (NPSI) and was implemented by KCCI with funding from the Tallahassee CRA. This project promotes city beautification, art education, and fire safety.
Additional information about the artists can be found at KCCITallahassee.com. This project was led by KCCI and The City of Tallahassee with additional involvement from the City of Tallahassee Fire Department.
The fire hydrants were painted as part of the 5th Annual Placemaking Week, which included a week of hands-on community-building events that engaged more than 200 volunteers in multiple areas of town.