In September 2005, John Dahlsen was the artist in residence as a guest of Jefferson City in Missouri USA. Here he made a series of installations forming a public artwork, made from recycled plastic bags, which were donated by the people of Jefferson City.
This series of works were exhibited as part of the Art In The Park Exhibition run by Atelier CMS inc. from Jefferson City.
The making of the artwork involved a large cross section of the community and included, the local National Parks service, the UMB Bank, whose employees sorted the many thousands of recycled plastic bags, which were brought in to the bank drop off point by the Jefferson City community, local school students and many community members, as well as inmates from the local prison, who were on communitry service leave.
At the opening ceremony, which was attended by Bob and Lori Hauser Holden, Governor and first Lady State of Missouri 2001 - 2005, and Senator Carl M Vogel, along with the other exhibiting artists and other distinguished guests.
Dahlsen delivered a speech, addressing the importance of public art in the built environment and the need for a percentage of public spending on government buildings to be earmarked for public artworks.
Dahlsen then went on to donate his series of sculptural installations to Jefferson City for their contemporary art collection, which he said would hopefully be housed soon, in a purpose built contemporary art space, which he noted Jefferson City urgently needed.
In the mean time, he has put the works in the care of Atelier CMS inc., under the directorship and safe custody of Carla Steck, the president and founder.
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