A Show of Hands set to debut in July
By Andy McDonald

Seventy-eight design entries were submitted by local artists for A Show of Hands, Berea’s first outdoor community art project. That number was recently narrowed down to 24 by a jury of local artists, and the number of hands finally selected for display around Berea will be even smaller, said Gwen Childs, director of the Berea Arts Council.

“Unfortunately, about half of the artists who were juried in aren’t going to get chosen. But we wanted the sponsors to have a good selection, and we think they have that.”

From the Hand of the Creator to the Yatsugatake Hand to Gone Fishin,’ visitors will be treated to some rich works of art when the six-foot fiberglass hands are displayed around the city this July. All of the finalists will be honored with a reception when sketches of the entries are exhibited in ArtSpace in College Square beginning this June.

Childs noted that hands will be stationed at sites along the main roadways of Berea, hopefully drawing motorists and tourists into and around the city, giving them a glimpse of what Berea has to offer.

So far, eleven sites have been tentatively identified as places where hands will be displayed, including Old Town, the Berea College Loghouse, Jefferson Street, Berea Community School, and the intersection of Chestnut Street and Mt. Vernon Road. Other possible sites include the intersection of Chestnut and Boone Street, College Square at Scaffold Cane and Prospect Street, as well as the intersection of U.S. 25 and Highway 1016.

“The steering committee for this project is choosing the spots where we would like to have hands displayed because we want to create a driving circle between the Artisan Center into town, onto College Square, into Old Town, and maybe one or two on Chestnut Street,” said Childs. “There may also be one out on (U.S.) 25 going toward Richmond by the Berea Health Care Center.”

In addition, Childs said local youths would also be getting into the act of celebrating A Show of Hands. Students from Madison Southern High School will be submitting carved wooden hands for display around the College Square lawn, and the Boys and Girls Club of Madison County will be deploying young volunteers to paint fire hydrants throughout the city with hand designs.

The project’s biggest hands will go on display around the city in July, and Childs said all of the statues will be unveiled on the same day in order to make the strongest impression on visitors.

“We really want them to make a statement, so the plan is they will all go out at the same time,” Childs said.

Learn more about the Berea Arts Council by calling 985-9317 or contacting them by email at bereaartscouncil@hotmail.com

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