City of Mobile, Mobile Arts Council seeking proposals for Hall of Fame Courtyard
Mobile, Ala – The City of Mobile and the Mobile Arts Council are calling on interested artists and architects to submit early concepts for a project that will commemorate Mobile’s local sports icons.
Earlier this year, Mobile Mayor Stimpson announced plans to establish a “Hall of Fame Courtyard” near the Mobile Convention Center and Cooper Riverside Park to honor the five Mobilians inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as well as other sports legends from the Port City.
The initial concept will include life-sized bronze statues of Hall of Famers Henry “Hank” Aaron, Satchel Paige, Billy Williams, Ozzie Smith and Willie Lee McCovey. It would also include former Houston Oiler and National Football League Hall of Famer Robert Lorenzo Brazile Jr. Eventually, the courtyard will expand to include other members from Mobile’s Sports Hall of Fame.
“We want to celebrate Mobile’s rich history of Major League Baseball greats as well as other locals who excelled in their respective sports. We also want to inspire future generations to chase their dreams of playing at the highest level,” Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson said. “We appreciate the Mobile Arts Council helping us find the right creative minds to bring this exciting concept to life.”
On the City’s behalf, the Mobile Arts Council has opened a request for qualifications (RFQ) for professional artists and architects who are interested in the design and creation of the statues that will be the centerpiece of the Hall of Fame Courtyard and a new asset to Mobile’s downtown waterfront.
“Public art should represent our community’s values, enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors, and instill a sense of pride and identity in our city’s landscape,” Lucy Gafford, Executive Director of the Mobile Arts Council, said. “Through this partnership, we will work to ensure that Mobile’s hometown heroes are accurately represented in an engaging and creative way. We look forward to seeing this important project come to fruition in the upcoming years.”
The chosen artist or artists will design, create, deliver, and install the first statue of “Hammerin” Hank Aaron in 2022. Professional artists or artist teams must be 18 years or older, have a minimum of five years’ experience, carry personal liability insurance, meet all contracted obligations, adhere by the proposed timeline and have a prepared concept to present to a selection committee. That committee will invite chosen artists/artist teams to submit a full proposal.
Special consideration will be given to artists working and residing within the state of Alabama. A link to the RFQ with more information about the project can be found at www.mobilearts.org/halloffame
Fairhope’s Corey Swindle
is ready to use his talent to recognize Mobile’s best athletes.
By Joey Warner
MOBILE BASEBALL
CONNECTION
A life size statue of Hank Aaron is on display at the Mobile Arts Council Gallery next door to the Saenger Theatre in downtown Mobile.
“Being the hometown guy, and having been involved in baseball my entire life, this project is especially near to my heart,”
Corey Swindle wrote in a message.
Corey Swindle of Fairhope, Alabama along with four more finalists have submitted their work and it is on display at the Arts Council Gallery.
https://mobilearts.org/city-of-mobile-mobile-arts-council-seeking-proposals-for-hall-of-fame-courtyard/
One of the talented experts will be chosen as the artist to achieve and fulfill this amazing project.
Six nine-foot-tall bronze statues with pedestals, portraying Mobile’s five Hall of Fame baseball players and one Hall of Fame football player will be erected in the Hall of Fame Courtyard in Cooper Riverside Park next to the Convention Center at the foot of Government Street in
downtown Mobile.
Former Major League baseball players Hank Aaron; Leroy “Satchel” Paige, Willie McCovey, Ozzie Smith, Billy Williams and former Houston Oiler and National Football League player Robert Brazile are the first players to be recognized with more members of the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame to follow.
Swindle’s son, Brody, is a rising star on the baseball field for Coach Matt Limbaugh at Bayside Academy High School in Daphne, AL.
It is evident Corey has his heart and soul in to this opportunity.
As baseball and sports enthusiasts from Mobile and Baldwin Counties as well as the surrounding area, we should rally around and support Corey Swindle with hope he will be the lucky one chosen as the creator of these unique sculptures.
“My team feels we have a great shot at this project and would be honored to be apart of this awesome project,” Swindle wrote.
Check out Corey’s work in the images of Hank Aaron.