Austin drivers have become accustomed to seeing those orange-and-white plastic barriers around construction sites; still, the ones that popped up at the intersection of South Lamar Boulevard and Barton Skyway this past Saturday must have drawn a double-take. The 50 or so “Yodocks” (named for the manufacturer) were arranged in a sculpture some 100 feet long and 12 feet high. And they’re going to stay that way for three months. The temporary public art installation was the inspiration of sculptor Steve Dubov, currently artist-in-residence at Atelier 3-D sculpture studio, who wanted to erect a site-specific outdoor work in the vein of Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s Running Fence, something that would create “a sense of theatre, wonder, and delight.” Dubov says he thinks the work, which he’s titled Barton Barriers, has “a sweet, silly charm that will make people smile.” And he plans to develop more work like it, through a new public art initiative called Art on the Way. Barton Barriers remains on view through June 12. For more information, visit www.artontheway.com.
This article appears in March 19 • 2010.