Shreveport Water Tower Winners Announced
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City of Shreveport Announces Winners of Water Tower Art Design Contest
Shreveport, LA, July 30, 2024 – The City of Shreveport and the Shreveport Regional Arts Council (SRAC) are thrilled to announce the winners of the highly anticipated Water Tower Art Design Contest. This initiative, a part of the broader project encompassing structural repairs, painting, and upgrades to the city's elevated water storage tanks, aims to integrate community-inspired artwork into the city's infrastructure.
The selected designs will adorn three prominent water towers in Shreveport, adding vibrant art to these essential structures. This project, contracted to Dixie Painting & Sandblasting, Inc., with designs by Dunham Engineering and AFJM, Incorporated, represents a $7 million investment in the city’s infrastructure.
The Winning Designs and Artists:
St. Vincent Elevated Storage Tank: “Celebrating All” by Terri Rhodes White
West Shreveport Elevated Storage Tank: “The Rose Tower” by Margaret Smith
Linwood Elevated Storage Tank: “City on the Red” by Terri Rhodes White
Project Details:
The comprehensive project includes structural repairs, painting/coating of the exterior and interior of the tanks, electrical upgrades, disinfection system upgrades, and site restoration. The following sites are included:
St. Vincent Elevated Storage Tank (2 MG, built in 1946) – Adjacent to I-49 near Pierremont Rd. / Hollywood Ave (Exit 203), adjacent to the Caddo Heights Park.
Linwood Elevated Storage Tank (2 MG, built in 1994) – Adjacent to I-49, south of Bert Kouns Industrial Loop (Exit 199), near Flournoy Lucas Rd.
West Shreveport Elevated Storage Tank (2 MG, built in 1979) – Adjacent to I-20, west of US 80 / LA 526 Industrial Loop (Exit 8), next door to Wonder Oasis Waterpark.
Schedule and Cost:
The total project duration is three years, with construction at each site taking approximately six months. The staggered schedule ensures that only one tank is out of service at a time to maintain water pressure across the city. The detailed schedule is as follows:
St. Vincent Tank: Start in November 2024, exterior painting in early 2025
Linwood Tank: Start in Fall 2025, exterior painting in early 2026
West Shreveport Tank: Start in Fall 2026, exterior painting in early 2027
The total project cost is estimated at $7 million, with the specific cost of artwork to be determined.
Insights from the artists:
Margaret Smith shared her excitement about winning the contest and her deep connection to Shreveport:
"I feel very fortunate to have grown up in Shreveport. The rich history, the culture, the natural and man-made beauty—what wonderful childhood memories I have! Although there is a lot to love about the city, it is the neighborhoods full of beautiful old homes that I adore the most. As a child, I studied and drew my favorites while imagining what they must be like inside. Whenever I visit, my brother always drives me around so that I may continue to gaze in awe of them. I have no doubt that being surrounded by such grand structures inspired me to study interior design and architecture in college.
Participating in this competition is my way of saying ‘thank you’ to a city that gave me so much. My design, ‘The Rose Tower,’ is inspired by Shreveport’s natural beauty, featuring the rose, the southern magnolia, and the Louisiana iris. A striking bouquet of flowers rising above the neighborhoods will undoubtedly convey a message of ‘welcome’ and ‘love’ for and from the city.”
Terri Rhodes White expressed her vision for selected for St. Vincent and Linwood tanks:
"When one wants to convey a message of ‘love’ or ‘welcome,’ a gift of flowers often comes to mind. The rounded top of a water tower resting on linear supports reminds me of a floral bouquet. My designs, ‘Celebrating All’ and ‘City on the Red,’ are straightforward: Three towers, three flowers. Shreveport deserves a statement piece, and a striking bouquet of flowers will convey a message of ‘welcome’ and ‘love’ for and from the city. My designs are simple, with limited color palettes and minimal flower variations, complemented by warm messages following the Shreveport signature."
Artwork Selection Process:
The idea to beautify the water towers with artwork was suggested by the Mayor’s office, with the First Lady of Shreveport, Mrs. Elizabeth Arceneaux, proposing a contest involving artists with a connection to Shreveport. The Shreveport Regional Arts Council (SRAC) was engaged in Fall 2023 to discuss ideas. A Call for Proposals was issued in March 2024, and finalists were selected in May 2024 by a panel including the Mayor, First Lady, SRAC representatives, and the Director and Deputy Director of Shreveport’s Water and Sewer Department. Final selections were made on July 11, 2024.
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High Resolution Images can be found at : https://drive.google.com/drive/