Colorful, upcycled public art coming to Lewes
Lewes is becoming the place to be for temporary public art.
On the heels of the “Unbounded II” exhibit in Canalfront Park, the city is set to welcome another temporary installation this summer. This time in George H.P. Smith Park.
In early June, artist Kate Dodd will install “Efflorescence,” a piece comprising 14 flower-like stalks ranging from 10 to 14 feet. Each vertical is created with bundles of repurposed water bottles wrapped in a colorful mesh-like material.
The piece will be loaned to the city for the entire summer. The exact location of the piece will be determined when Dodd arrives in Lewes.
A graduate of New York’s Pratt Institute and a recipient of a 2020 NJ Fellowship for Sculpture, Dodd has exhibited her artwork widely throughout New Jersey and in New York and California. Dodd frequently works with repurposed materials, using everything from discarded books to styrofoam cups to create installations for a variety of venues, from museums and parks to schools and train stations.
Public art committee chair Cliff Diver presented the plan to bring the piece to Lewes at mayor and city council’s May 17 meeting, where it received unanimous support.
“I think the kaleidoscopic effect of this multi-colored display will be very uplifting for people as they get out and explore,” said Mayor Ted Becker. “I also like the idea that it is all recycled material. Obviously we’re promoting the idea of recycling, and this is a good illustration of ‘one man’s trash is another man’s treasure,’ and doing something very creative with something that may have ended up in the landfill.”
Nick Roth is the news editor. He has been with the Cape Gazette since 2012, previously covering town beats in Milton and Lewes. In addition to serving on the editorial board and handling page layout, Nick is responsible for the weekly Delaware History in Photographs feature and enjoys writing stories about the Cape Region’s history. Prior to the Cape Gazette, Nick worked for the Delmarva Media Group, including the Delaware Wave, Delaware Coast Press and Salisbury Daily Times. He also contributed to The News Journal. Originally from Boyertown, Pa., Nick attended Shippensburg University in central Pennsylvania, graduating in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He’s won several MDDC awards during his career for both writing and photography. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, going to the beach with his family and cheering for Philadelphia sports teams.
