Client: City of Port St Lucie

Overview

Nouveau Crane lands Port Saint Lucie City Hall

Beginning Dec. 4, visitors to Port St. Lucie City Hall will be greeted by a sandhill crane sculpture standing more than seven feet tall. Titled “Nouveau Crane,” the sculpture was created by artist Lee Bell and is on loan with the City for two years as part of Port St. Lucie’s Art in Public Places Master Plan.

Made of steel and mixed media, the piece includes recycled materials to demonstrate the inherent beauty of nature while subtly expressing concerns about the fragility of Florida’s wildlife and environment.

“My subject matter has remained rooted in themes of nature, feminine beauty and animals,” Bell said. “A truly successful piece for me has a personality – they are characters with emotion encased in a form. The paradox in the work that the upcycled material is commonly disposed of in ways that affect the very creatures I am creating is important to me.

Goals

The city of Port St Lucie wishes to enhance public spaces for the general population and has an active and vibrant public art program. Artwork is placed in front of city hall on a rotating basis with two year long exhibitions of chosen sculptural works placed on an exisisting pedastal in front of this municipal building.

Process

Josh Lapp of designing local , the city arts advisory board and others were involved in selecting and inviting the artist of choice to install sculptural work in front of city hall for the public to enjoy.