Bringing a Vision to Life

The Community Foundation of the Lowcountry welcomes guest blogger Mark Baker for this week's contribution. Mark is chairman of the Public Art Committee of the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry.

On the corner of Pope Avenue and New Orleans Road, a park has been brought to life. It received two new residents this past Saturday in the form of an alligator and the Island’s visionary leader, Charles Fraser. The Community Foundation’s Public Art Committee commissioned the design and casting of this larger-than-life bronze sculpture of Charles Fraser walking with an alligator from the well-known photograph published in the Saturday Evening Post in 1962. This is our first piece of public art donated to the Town of Hilton Head Island and hopefully a glimpse of many more to come.

The Community Foundation of the Lowcountry created a Public Art Fund for the purposes of funding and acquiring public art and outdoor sculpture to be placed in the public realm on Hilton Head Island. We believe that the arts provide much needed shared experiences for many in our communities—they also help drive local economies. Having an abundance of art in public places makes our communities more attractive to professionals, retirees, families and tourists who are increasingly driven by quality of life and the availability of cultural amenities. So if you get a chance, stop by Compass Rose Park and visit its newest residents. Climb on the alligator, search for the hidden compass rose. This piece is for you.