Local artists Liz Potenza, April Franklin, Jackson Morley, Frank Barada and Tim Ferland have been hard at work. They are the Steel Yard's team designing, fabricating and installing a 385 foot sculptural, one-of-a-kind, interactive fence around the Bank of America Skating Center in Providence's Kennedy Plaza.

The project is the final installment of the National Endowment for the Art's $200,000 'Our Town' grant awarded to the City of Providence, Mayor Angel Taveras, Department of Art, Culture + Tourism, FirstWorks, the Downtown Providence Parks Conservancy and their 15 arts & community partners in 2012.

"We are thrilled that the Steel Yard can contribute a permanent and lasting addition to Kennedy Plaza. It will stand for a long time in recognition of this point in Providence's development and its inclusive and celebrated arts and culture climate." Said Howie Sneider, Public Projects Director for the Steel Yard.

The team began the design process by brainstorming with a host of stakeholders organized by the City of Providence, Mayor Angel Taveras, Greater Kennedy Plaza, the Department of Art, Culture + Tourism and the Providence Parks Department. Next, with the project guidelines established, the artists conducted public art surveys with users of Kennedy Plaza. This process contributed important feedback towards the later design development.

Fabrication began in November with materials purchased at Mid-City Steel from Westport, Massachusetts. As pieces were finished they were delivered to Inter-City Contracting in Smithfield for sandblasting and painting.

More than ninety percent of the project budget has stayed with regional suppliers, vendors, contractors and artists; all of this while creating a unique and large-scale sculptural addition to the Downcity landscape.