In December, Visit Bend and Art in Public Places officially launched the long-anticipated Roundabout Art Route.
A sister program to the popular Bend Ale Trail, the Roundabout Art Route is a self-guided, interpretive tour of Bend’s extraordinary collection of over 20 pieces of public art on display throughout the city in the most unlikely places – at the center of Bend’s traffic circles.
The traffic circles – which are also filled with flowers, plants, and trees – are designed to keep traffic flowing around the city. At the center of each circle is a unique piece of artwork representing the heritage, culture, and natural beauty of the area. In 2005, the Americans For The Arts recognized Bend’s roundabout art collection as one of the most innovative approaches to public art in the country.
“Visitors can pick up the Roundabout Art Route map at the Bend Visitor Center or from any of the brochure racks around the region,” explained Doug La Placa from Visit Bend, the city’s tourism bureau. “From there, they can travel at their own pace among the sculptures featured in the guide. People who answer a minimum of 10 out of 20 trivia questions and bring the completed quiz back to the Visitor Center receive a commemorative chocolate bar made by local chocolatier Goody’s.”
Those who prefer a guided tour can catch the Bend Art Safari with GETIT Shuttle or the Roundabout Bend Culinary and Art Tour with The Well Traveled Fork.
“This is a fun opportunity for visitors to see an incredible collection of public art,” explained Cristy Lanfri with Art In Public Places, the organization responsible for bringing traffic circle art to Bend. “Bend’s art scene is unique not only because the sculptures are outdoors and are set against the backdrop of gorgeous scenery, but because the collection reflects the creativity and energy that make Bend such a special place.”
For more information about the Roundabout Art Route, visit www.roundaboutartroute.com or stop by the Bend Visitor Center at the corner of Oregon and Lava in downtown Bend.
“Think of this as an art tour for active souls,” explained Doug LaPlaca “Bend’s art scene is fun and quirky, and we know visitors are going to enjoy this opportunity to interact with these unique pieces.”
Art in Public Places is a non-profit organization backed by the Bend Foundation, which was established and funded by Brooks-Scanlon, Inc, Brooks Resources and their shareholders. With more than 43 pieces of art scattered around Bend, it’s a centerpiece of Bend’s energetic cultural scene.The next art installations you’ll be seeing are the result of a successful fundraising campaign called Be Part of Art. To learn more or donate, visit artinpublicplaces.org.
