Encroachment & Revocable Permit - Installation of Three (3) Trees, Shovel Handle Sculpture and Rock for the Notre Dame Class of 1970 - City of South Bend Venues Parks and Arts

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An Art Installation in South Bend, Indiana Presentation to the Board of the Parks and Venue Department of the City of South Bend, Indiana Devon Sullivan, Artist School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) November 18, 2019 Location The property is situated along the St. Joseph River at the round -about of Riverside Drive and West Angela. The area is clear of any obstructions. The area is about .10 of an acre (4,715 square feet). Art installation The concept of the art installation is to create a space that acknowledges the importance of gatherings (reunions) in a setting of nature to allow for personal reflection and for enjoyment of the environment. The proposed name of the plot is Reunion Park and the theme is "Rock, Paper, Shovel", and the theme connotes a place for playfulness. Concept of the Park The shape of the park is bounded by a walking path in the shape of a bow adjacent to the round -about symbolizing a shield. Both symbols recognize the presence of archetypes of Native Americans who once occupied the river banks of the St. Joseph River. The celebration of human interaction in work (shovel), play (tip of the shovel is notched like an arrow) and solitary reflection (alignment of the symbols) are captured in the simplicity of the art arrangement. Description of the installation 1. Sculpture. Near the center point of the arc, a sculpture of a shovel handle will be embedded in a concrete pad. The handle of the shovel has dual meanings. The shovel is playful indicating that there was work completed in planting and tending to the park. The handle also symbolized the shaft of an arrow pointing in the direction of the trees and the rock on the promontory of the plot. The notch on the top of the shovel handle is aligned to show the importance of balance and direction of purpose. The shovel handle is mounted into the cement via a chain link fence mount, and it symbolizes combining language of connection and with continuity (functionally allowing repairs). 2. Plaque will be placed near the embedded shovel handle (see diagram 2 for placement). The plaque will read Reunion Park "Rock, Paper, Shovel" Notre Dame Class of 1970 The theme of "Rock, Paper, Shovel' is a play on the game of "rock, paper, scissors" to convey that the park is for the dual purpose of playtime and reflective time at a gathering place. The plaque placed so as to intrigue the passing visitor to stop and wonder about the messages being conveyed by art in the park. Presentation on the art installation at Riverside and W. Angela Dr. in South Bend Page 1