The Arts Commission is reviewing six concept proposals for the Newhall Roundabout Art Project. 

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The Newhall Roundabout Art Project involves implementing a public art piece that will be the focal point at the intersection of Main Street, Newhall Avenue and Fifth Street.

It’s being implemented as as a part of Santa Clarita’s initiative to revive Old Town Newhall, according to city officials.  

Each semifinalist selected was given a $500 stipend to develop his or her concept design proposals.

The arts commissioners are expected to ratify their two selected finalists July 11.

The six semifinalist artists reviewed Monday were: Douwe Blumberg, an untitled piece; Michael Duffy, with his piece of “Facing the Sun, Facing the Future”; Joshua Weiner, with his art piece titled “Crossing Paths”; Riis Burwell, with his art piece titled “Tatavian Sun”;  Susan Cooper, with her piece titled, “Reel and Rail Rig; and Michael Clapper with his piece, “Western Reel”

The concept proposals are expected to be displayed at City Hall and online and will allow the general public to contribute their opinion.

The city’s arts commissioners will request approval by the City Council for the final artist selection which will occur on Oct. 8.

Los Angeles artist Douwe Blumberg’s equine art piece is influenced by horses, since he believes it is a staple of Santa Clarita heritage.

“I wanted to make an art piece that was integral to the history and heartbeat of Santa Clarita,” he said.

“I’ve lived in Santa Clarita for 16 years, and I believe the equestrian ranches here in Santa Clarita is some of the only remnants in Los Angeles county left,” he said in a statement.

So my conception of a piece with galloping horses pays tribute to that,” according to the statement.

Michael Duffy said his piece is inspired by “Santa Clarita’s unique peoples and the original domestic architecture,” according to a statement provided by the city.

The piece will utilize metal bands to create the framework and it is a tribute to Santa Clarita’s past and future.

Joshua Weiner presented an innovative sculpture that can be best described as 3-D painting.

“The sculpture appears to be kinetic, but it has no moving parts. It creates a visual experience that can be described as a 3D painting,” Weiner said.

Michael Clapper’s signature sculpture is a mammoth and enormous film strip commemorating Santa Clarita’s history of serving as a backlot for Western films, such as Gene Autry’s Melody Ranch in Newhall.

Santa Rosa artist Riis Burwel proposed the structure “Tataviam Sun,” since, “It simply yet dramatically, expresses the power and strength of both the natural world and that of the human spirit found in the history of Santa Clarita.”  

Susan Cooper incorporated multiple elements in her vision for the Newhall roundabout. 

“It’s 20 feet high and the three sides relate to aspects of the history. There’s a film strip on one side and then what looks like railroads of another. And the third side has western type of images. It is steel and it will have changing colors of lights,” according to her statement. 

She commemorates Tim Burton, who is a graduate from CalArts, in her art piece.

KHTS AM 1220 was unable to reach Duffy, Clapper and Burwel for comment.

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