Issue link: https://townofcary.uberflip.com/i/320439
Chapter 2 ! Who is Cary? 9 The Arts, Parks, and Sustainability Cary has a rich assortment of local cultural arts facilities and programs. In addition to the Cary Arts Center and the Page - Walker Arts & History Center, Koka Booth Amphitheatre and Sertoma Amphitheatre in Bo nd Park provide performing arts programs. Arts and crafts festiv als are held twice each year . The Applause! Cary Youth Theatre is held at the Cary Arts Cente r and numerous classes and performances in the visual and performing arts are sponsored by the Town and other organizati on s. In addition to its commitment to cultural arts, Cary is dedicated to parks, conservation, and environmental stewardship. The Town of Cary currently has 29 park areas and 60 miles of greenways open to the community. The parks sys tem offers a variety of active and passive recreational venues, from field and court athletics to contemplative relaxation. The natu ral and planted vegetation in Cary is also characteristic of the community. The mixed coniferous and broadleaf forest in t he rural areas, the mature tree canopies in the older residential neighborhoods, and the well - landscape d highway corridors all combine to create a lush green backdrop. Water conservation is important to Cary because of its continued population growth and the limitations of Jordan Lake as a reservoir. The town has adopted regulatory programs and promotes public awareness of water conservation and the economic and environmental benefits of efficient water use. In 2001, Cary became the first municipality in North Carolina to require reclaimed water systems for non - residential projects. The reclaimed water is used for irrigation, manufacturing processes, industrial cooling, street washing, and dust control at construction sites. Expressing Local Themes in Pu blic Art The above highlights of Cary's history, character and community values are just a hint of the many themes that can be explored through expressive and interpretive public art. Additional themes may be discovered through local research and may be unique to a site or neighborhood, or representative of the broad er community values and heritage. Cary's most recent public art projects have been created a r ound such communit y and site specific themes. "Bowstring Vines", by Michael D. Stutz, adorning a greenway and pedestrian bridge, reflects Cary's commitment to sustainability and its connection with nature. The project consists of a series of flowing steel vines that frame each entrance to the bowstring pedestrian bridge. "Growing" from the ground ben eath the abutments, then wrapping around the top cord of the bowstrings, the vines connect the bridge and its users to the surrounding natural environment. New bus shelters feature glass windscreen etchings by Susan Harbage Page of wallpaper designs and a rchitectural details from Cary's historic sites. Artists Norie Sato, Jim Hirschfield and Sonya Ishii, as members of the Design Team , collaborated with Clearscapes architects to develop a series of integrated artworks for the renovation of an iconic old school building into Cary's new Arts Center. The artists' goal was to inspire creativity, create a sense of energy emanating from the Center and to honor the landmark building's history. The design concept included the use of a Harlequin's pattern that ce lebrates the intersection of performing and visual arts , historic photos , art school and other school references , and a strong presence during both the day and night. Layers of meaning within the art should be revealed to audiences over time, encouraging d iverse interpretations that inspire conversation.