A giant Colonel Sanders and out-of-this-world sculpture is coming to a Northern Kentucky street near you.
The King of Kentucky Fried Chicken is the subject of a 3D mural and one of a dozen new art installations launched this week as part of the city of Covington’s Quality of Place grant program and meetNKY, which also includes a long-awaited sculpture called “Clive.” “
The announcement and the start of installation are timed to the 40th anniversary Republican week of travel and tourism (May 7-13). The 12 Quality of Place grant recipients represent businesses, organizations or individual New Yorkers whose creative, winning ideas aim to improve the city’s business districts through artistic projects.
City of Covington Economic Development Director Tom West says the installations show why Covington is the “bold side of the river” and have the potential to create new attractions.
“Covington continues to attract new businesses, residents and visitors to Northern Kentucky, thanks in large part to the economic investments being made at the local, state and federal levels,” West said in a news release. “We’re capitalizing on the qualities that make it ‘the bold side of the river,’ and these art installations will serve as a canvas for our artists to showcase their creativity while inspiring visitors to our city.”
In partnership with The Center for Great Neighborhoods, Quality of Place grantees were able to request between $1,000 and $30,000. According to the grant application, the projects will create a sense of place through public art.
Shogun Sanders materializes on Main Street from Earth to Kentucky. The mural is inspired by Japanese culture and Mr. KFC himself. The mural was painted by Kentucky-born artist Jonathan Quinn, whose other murals are located throughout downtown Cincinnati.
The “Shogun Sanders” design mockup features Colonel Sanders towering over an alien scene.
In partnership with Covington digital specialists, AlloyFX, the “out of this world” sculpture will take over the Midtown parking garage at Fifth and Scott Streets. meetNKY provided additional funding to AlloyFX in addition to a Quality of Place grant to bring the Clive sculpture to life.
AlloyFX, a company specializing in 3D animation and modeling, technology and design, makes “Clive” out of fiberglass and Styrofoam. According to a press release, The Clive will be “unlike anything Northern Kentucky has seen before.” The rest of the details are left to the imagination until the installation is complete.
A group of local bicycle advocates is revitalizing the intersection at Greenup and Third streets. Go with Glo is a highlight of all things bicycle and adds benches and planters near the Roebling Bridge.
meetNKY President and CEO Julie Kirkpatrick said in a press release that “Clive’s arrival, which we are keeping under wraps for now, and the projects that follow are designed to turn that attention into foot traffic for other companies in Northern Kentucky. Covington’s investment in the arts encourages local talent to pursue their creativity here, while also showcasing the prowess of our arts scene to those outside the region.”
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https://www.citybeat.com/news/a-dozen-new-murals-to-pop-up-around-covington-including-a-giant-colonel-sanders-15238559
