Local public art consultant Alexandra Hall estimated the following lifespans for various types of public art.
Crosswalk murals: After about two years, an installation starts to look rough because of regular wear by vehicles and winter weather treatments. Longer lasting materials are available at a higher cost, and touchups can extend the life of a piece.
Sidewalk murals: Pieces in the Clean Drains Fort Wayne: Be River SmArt project generally last about three to five years. They are subject to wear by pedestrians, as well as shovels and salt in the winter.
Wall murals: Color begins to fade in about 25 years. A piece likely should be restored or removed after 30 to 35 years.
Sculptures and statues: The lifespan depends on materials. Bronze is an investment that lasts a long time, while steel has a shorter shelf life. Electrified projects have shorter expected lifespans because the technology becomes obsolete over time.
Fiberglass: Many mastodon sculptures from a 2005 project honoring what was then IPFW are still going strong in the community more than 20 years later. The I Am Allen public art project honoring the county’s 2024 bicentennial also used fiberglass forms painted by local artists.
Artists say
The Journal Gazette asked some mural artists who have worked on local projects to answer the following question.
Q. Why do you think public art is important for a community? And do you think it is important for that community to maintain that art after it is installed?
Shawn Dunwoody: Public art brings identity to a place. It reflects the people, the culture, the history; it gives a neighborhood a visual voice. It can spark pride, conversation, and connection.
But it doesn’t stop at installation. Maintenance is part of respect. If a community values the message, the story, and the impact of the work, then taking care of it becomes part of that relationship. A maintained mural says, “this still matters.” And that’s what keeps public art alive.
Lyndy Bazile: Yes, public art is an important part of creating a vibrant community! I feel that creating unique and thoughtful visuals in public spaces helps a community build identity, feel connected and inspire even more creativity. I’m sure we all have experienced pulling off a highway and seeing an Arbys, Panera, gas station and a Starbucks and thinking “This looks like a thousand other places I’ve seen!” Nothing about that indicated a unique community, and I find that to be one of the most depressing feelings. Copying and pasting large corporate chains and branding across the land is a community killer, creating intentional public art brings life and community.
Damien Mitchell: Public art can produce several positive outcomes in a community. Having art exhibited outside of the traditional gallery system allows the work to be accessible to everyone at all times of day. It can promote a dialogue in the community and form a sense of pride of place. Maintenance of the work allows this to continue and reflects the pride and unity of a community.