After years of emphasis on outdoor sculptures, Sandy Springs will move its attention indoors to showcase more art in its City Springs building.
The city has partnered with Art Sandy Springs (ArtSS) on indoor and outdoor public art programming. Cheri Morris, the head of Public Art Initiatives for ArtSS, provided the city council with an update on the city’s 2025-2026 public art program plans during its April 15 meeting.
“You asked us last year or this budget year to transition from the annual Arts Walk, the sculpture competition, to what we call the City Springs Collection,” Morris said.
The presentation shared by Morris said the City Springs Master Art Plan proposes a two-story-tall city hall feature wall in its lobby. Commissioned art would be sought. Phase 1 of the plan proposes wall art for public areas and conference rooms on the third floor.
The lobby level already is being used as a rotating art gallery, which Morris said is working well.
Morris said ArtSS talked to sculptors, collage artists, fiber artists, painters, and mural artists, to get some pricing guidance. From those discussions, they determined that larger artworks for the lobby feature wall would cost between $60,000 and $220,000. Interior art for public areas of the third floor would average $3,000. Donations of art for private offices and city conference rooms would also be sought.
The city has $25,000 remaining in its current fiscal year public art budget. Morris suggested combining that with an anticipated $60,000 allocation for the next fiscal year to purchase art.
Morris said ArtSS is asking local working artists to contribute art. Local residents with private art collections who may be downsizing are also being sought to make donations.
ArtSS wants to move away from the hard-edged, abstract art style in the City Springs Master Art Plan and move to more representable, relatable pieces, Morris said.
Council member Tibby DeJulio suggested getting historical photos from Sandy Springs displayed as photo galleries in some of the hallways or conference rooms.
“Even though we’re only 20 years old, we’ve got pictures in this town that go back basically 100 years. And I hate to see us lose that history,” DeJulio said.
ArtSS also operates arts programs at the Abernathy Arts Center under a contract with the city. Morris praised the city for adding classroom space that will enable expansion to more programs. The city approved the purchase and installation in December 2023 of a modular art studio at the site. Issues with contractors will have staff bringing the art studio back into conversation at the May 20 council meeting, City Manager Eden Freeman said.
Dina Chumney, executive director of ArtSS and of the Abernathy Arts Center, said the organization proposed a 20th Anniversary Turtle Walk as a joint project with ArtSS and the Sandy Springs Society. A display of turtle sculptures created by local organizations that predate the story will be on display around the City Green in celebration of the city’s 20th anniversary later this year. From mid-June to early September, the turtles would be on display.
Chumney said that in conjunction with the turtle walk, a student artwork show would be curated from kids’ art activities at farmers’ markets in May and June, and from Abernathy Arts Center Summer Camp art.
Many of the turtle sculptures need rehabilitation, but council members said the city should only consider paying to rehabilitate sculptures it owns.
“I like the turtle thing, but I don’t think the city should be restoring private turtles,” council member Andy Bauman said.
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