FRISCO, Texas - Prior to tonight's game between FC Dallas and the Columbus Crew, a dedication ceremony was held outside the south gate of Pizza Hut Park, as City of Frisco and Hunt Sports Group officials unveiled the trophy-like artwork that will permanently decorate the entrance to the stadium. The 33-foot tall structure and a 27 foot tall winged-foot structure located in the north soccer park were created by artist Larry Kirkland and presented to Pizza Hut Park by the City of Frisco Public Art program.
ABOUT THE ARTWORK
Golden Goal, located at the south entrance of Pizza Hut Park, abstractly suggests a spinning soccer ball or a spinning globe and has a trophy-like presence. The 15' diameter sphere is constructed of a series of nested concentric rings, attached one to the next on incrementally spaced axis points. A central disc of dichroic glass reflects and transmits colored light onto the gilded surfaces of the metal - referred to as the golden goal.
Frisco Flyer is a steel and aluminum structure which forms the classic winged foot of Hermes/Mercury, the Greek and Roman god who was messenger of the gods and the swiftest of all on Mount Olympus. The sculpture is a tribute to those swift soccer players who help bring their teams to victory. Located within the structure are LED strips programmed for a changing color display of light in the evenings. Honoring soccer as an international sport that brings people of all nations together, the granite capped, star shaped base of the sculpture is engraved with the word "soccer" in numerous languages and accompanied by maps of countries where the game is played and language spoken.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Larry Kirkland is an internationally acclaimed artist who collaborates with design professionals and community leaders to create meaningful places. Kirkland's public artwork can be found at Pennsylvania Station in New York City, the City of Denver Municipal building, the California Museum of Science in Los Angeles, the American Red Cross Headquarters in Washington DC, and the National Academies of Science in Washington DC. His work for the United States General Services Administration includes pieces at the Federal Building in New Carrollton, Maryland, and The Federal Courthouse in Sacramento, California. Outside the United States he has installations at the Putra World Trade Center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Kansai International Airport in Osaka, Japan, and Central Station in Hong Kong.
ABOUT CITY OF FRISCO PUBLIC ART PROGRAM
Art and culture are important elements in the City of Frisco's growth, serving to promote cultural and economic vitality. Established in 2002 by the Frisco City Council, Frisco's Public Art Program calls for the integration of art into the city's myriad capital projects. Projects funded by the Public Art Program include the Frisco Conference Center and Parking Garage, Public Works facility, and Fairways Green Park.
Art selection in Frisco is a three tiered process designed to be inclusive. Ad-hoc artist selection committees (ASC) are formed for each project. These committees meet two to four times to review artists' qualifications and/or proposals for the purpose of recommending one artist for a given commission. The Public Art Board, a standing board of the city, votes on the selection and advises the City Council, who has final authority over artist agreements.
