The Akins Ford Arena completed the installation of its latest adornment, “Red Bass” by Colorado-based artist Christopher Weed, on the Foundry Street plaza adjacent to its entrance on Monday, Feb. 24.
Funded by SPLOST—a local sales tax for capital projects, including public art—and facilitated by the Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services Arts Division, the ACC Mayor and Commission approved the design, along with two of the arena’s other artworks, in September 2023. Weed’s design was chosen in a blind selection by a community panel from 109 applicants who submitted to the nationwide call for art. The design features an oversized bright red double bass stretching its neck high into the sky atop a platform giving it added height—a whole 25 feet tall. Facing the bass are two large purple chairs, not proportional in size but also far bigger than life-sized, that invite the community to interact with them.
In choosing the double bass as the subject, Weed explains, “The abstract bass sculpture celebrates Athens’ rich music scene, performing arts and cultural diversity, honoring its vibrant past, present and future in a thought-provoking way. The double bass was a natural choice as it pays homage to Athens’ deep musical roots, spanning genres and generations. It nods to the city’s legacy, from jazz icons like Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway and Duke Ellington—who frequently performed in downtown Athens’ ‘Hot Corner’ in the early 1900s—to influential artists like R.E.M., the B-52s and the Indigo Girls.”
Weed further explains that his goal was to create an environment that was playful and inviting, with an emphasis on encouraging adults to rediscover their sense of childlike wonder through this piece of art. Its looming size certainly shrinks the viewer by comparison.
“Scale, color and whimsy were crucial in shaping this installation. Linear elements dominate the area, so I saw it as a blank canvas where I could introduce contrast through scale, bold abstraction, inviting curves and vibrant color,” says Weed.
During the arena’s scheduled events, the plaza will be filled with people coming, going and hanging out. The chairs, meant for sitting and climbing, paired with the double bass aid in realizing Weed’s vision of utilizing the space for play. However, they also add a space for relaxing contemplation during the emptied-out plaza’s quiet moments.
“I love incorporating interactive elements whenever possible, as public art should invite engagement rather than just be observed,” says Weed. “In this case the oversized, abstracted steel chairs offer a place for people to sit, reflect and momentarily lose themselves in thought. Public art—unlike pieces confined to museums—thrives on interaction, drawing people into the experience and making them feel like part of the story.”
Since 1998 Weed has completed more than 35 permanent public art installations in an array of settings from universities and bridges over protected wetlands to light rail stations. His work appears in collections across the globe in Los Angeles, Seattle, Miami, New York, Munich, Frankfurt, Berlin and even his hometown of Philadelphia.
Facing the Foundry Street plaza that is now home to the “Red Bass” is the large-scale mural “Architecture of Imagination” by artist Kate Lewis, located on the outside of a parking deck next to Akins Ford Arena. Inspired by architecture and geometry, the mural adds another pop of color to the area with a palette dominated by yellow, red and pink. It was one of the artworks approved at the same time as the “Red Bass” sculpture, with its installation completed back in October 2024.
Currently there is an active call for public art submissions by the ACC government to design and install artistic pedestrian gates as part of the Bishop Park Improvements project. This includes two separate pedestrian entrances to the park on Hawthorne Avenue that enhance the user experience and compliment the site. The application deadline is Mar. 14 at 5 p.m. For full details or to submit an application, visit accgov.com/10597/Call-for-Public-Art-Bishop-Park-Gates.
Public art selection panels review, evaluate and select from submitted proposals for Athens-Clarke County-funded public art commissions, like “Red Bass” and the new call for Bishop Park gates. Members of the community interested in serving on a public art selection panel should fill out the form at accgov.com/9656/Public-Art-Selection-Panels.
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