The City of Ocala has announced the installation of a functional relief sculpture at the E.D. Croskey Recreation Center.
Artists Stephen and Jessica Pigman started the sculptural installation portion of the project on Tuesday at the facility, located at 1510 NW Fourth St. The project was commissioned by the Cultural Arts and Sciences Division and sponsored by AdventHealth.
The installation pays tribute to the African American quilting tradition, utilizing textiles to create traditional geometric patterns reflective of this tradition with customized sound panels. The E.D. Croskey Recreation Center is part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Complex and serves as a historical and cultural asset to the community.
The pattern of the work pays homage to the historical impact of the African American heritage in West Ocala. It also mirrors the mud cloth pattern represented on the Ocala Black History Mural at Webb Field, which was restored in 2019.
The functional portion of the installation is sound absorption. This will extend the ability of the facility to provide more music, theater and other performance opportunities and will serve as the alternative rain location for the Levitt AMP Ocala Music Series. It addresses the sound tunnel that currently exists when bringing performances inside the building, mitigating the need for ear plugs. This also will assist during recreational activities including basketball, Zumba and other fitness classes hosted in the facility.
Stephen and Jessica Pigman are the husband and wife team that make up Pigman’s Music and Art Company. They are musicians who construct interactive museum exhibits, produce educational workshops, create theatrical productions and provide technical support for stage productions. They have a background in set design, scenic painting, costuming, custom prop fabrication, and lighting and sound design. They have previously worked with the City of Ocala designing exhibit components for the Discovery Center.
The City of Ocala offers many visual art opportunities in city spaces. Public art is complimentary and is intended for everyone to enjoy. Detailed information about current programming and future projects can be found at www.ocalafl.org/culturalarts. Self-guided public art tours are available at Ocala.oncell.com.
For more information, please contact the City of Ocala Cultural Arts Department at (352) 629-8447.