Public art is incorporated into new fire stations, libraries and parks in the city of San Diego.
That's because for all of the city's capital improvement projects 2 percent of the cost of construction of the project has to be set aside for public art.
"I think that public art more and more is becoming a more powerful tool, an adaptive tool, to really drive improvements in our 21st century cities globally, as well as here locally in San Diego," said Christine Jones, the senior public art manager for The City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture. "I think art is a powerful vehicle for that and it really can impact and respond to ... the social, physical and economic fabric of a community."
A public art project in a new East Village park is currently in the planning stage. Community members will have the opportunity to meet the artist selected for the project 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at NewSchool of Architecture & Design at 747 Park Blvd. in downtown San Diego.
Organizers say the event will help the artist, Mark Reigelman, learn about the neighborhood so he can create a site-specific piece.
On Tuesday's KPBS Midday Edition, Jones discusses the city's public art program.
