Art for All - New Walking Tour to Highlight Architecture and History of Downtown NPR

tides-richeysuncoast — Sketch of the proposed bronze sculpture to represent the Thomas Meighan Theatre/Richey Suncoast Theatre in downtown New Port Richey. The 8-10" sculptures, created by St. Petersburg artist, Gillian Harper, will combine to create a walking tour of several downtown sites. PHOTO| MICHELE MILLER

BY MICHELE MILLER
What’s What New Port Richey

“Music hath charms to soothe a savage breast. To soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak”
William Congreve’s 1697 play The Mourning Bride.

The strength of a community is often reflected in the arts programs nurtured there. Community theaters and orchestras, music venues, museums, and visual artist enclaves serve to fuel a thriving cultural movement that feeds its people and lays out a welcome mat that yields to a more vibrant, safe and healthy hub.

Communities that go above and beyond to create a free offering that allows art for all to enjoy are always better for it. A concert in the park, a downtown art walk or a spattering of colorful street murals that can lift a day or make you think are all ways to make culture a prominent community feature while telling you something about the people who live there, work there, or tell a story in a creative way about how the place came to be.

These things that make someone want to live there. Visit there.

Such is the case of Tides of Time, a soon-to-come public art project sponsored by the New Port Richey Main Street Design Committee and the City of NPR.

The project, which has been many months in the making, bookmarks the city’s centennial year with the permanent installation of small bronze sculptures and an artist’s interpretation of the places they represent.

St. Petersburg artist Gillian Harper poses with sketches of the bronze statues that will be installed on historic downtown buildings in honor of the city’s centennial.
PHOTO | MICHELE MILLER

The 8 to 10-inch bronze sculptures are to be poured by St. Petersburg artist, Gillian Harper who specializes in large and small metal installations and has exhibited extensively throughout the country and has been showcased at several public art projects.

When complete, the sculptures will lay out a self-guided tour of 11 historical sites including the Chasco Inn, the New Port Richey Land Company, Sims Park as well as the famed Richey Suncoast Theatre and Hacienda Hotel.

Each sculpture will feature a QR code that when accessed by cell phone will offer a video and audio tour of the building or site. NPR Main Street intends to submit the installation for consideration to several international travel sites as a way to increase foot traffic drive tourism to the city.

While that’s a selling point, for those who live or move here, the project offers tangible access to the history of the community and an opportunity to elevate the arts from within.

Tides of Times has been a collaborative venture from the start, said Beth Fregger, owner of the Chasco Inn and volunteer co-chair with Haley Schalmo of NPR Main Street’s Design Committee.

Lia Gallegos who serves on the Richey Suncoast Theatre board planted the idea of creating a self-guided walking art exhibit similar to those featured on the Atlas Obscura website, Fregger said at a fundraising event held at the Richey Suncoast Theatre where sketches of the proposed sculptures were revealed to the public.

It’s art for the people by the people – an $85,000 investment financed by private donors and a $27,500 cultural grant from the city. The accumulated funds are a big worthy step but there’s still a way to go. At the design committee’s last meeting in November, it was reported that there was about a $6,000 gap. While the committee is still recruiting big sponsorship donors to pitch in anywhere from $500 – $5,000, they are also welcoming individual sponsorship opportunities to members of the community.

Any amount is welcome. Those donating $20 or more will garner special recognition for themselves or their families, said Fregger, noting there will be more opportunities down the road as there are plans to expand to other downtown properties.

“It’s a way to see the growth of the city through architecture,” she said. “We intend to keep it growing to include things like the mid-century modern changes.”

Chosen sculptor Gillian Harper said fell in love with the city as she studied the architecture of the buildings that had been selected by NPR Main Street. Her visits included a delightful overnight stay at the Hacienda Hotel that reopened in September of 2022 after a multi-year renovation. She sought input from local dignitaries and some long-timers. Poured through old photos at the West Pasco Historical Society and spent time on fivay.org, a historical website and online treasure trove of local history created and archived by the late, Jeff Miller.

“I love it here. It’s been very enjoyable to come up here and stay,” said Harper, who spent hours creating the intricte watercolor, ink and pencil sketches presented at the recent unveiling.

“I’m looking forward to bringing these sketches to life. Pouring the bronze and hopefully, they will be around for more years to come.”

New Port Richey Main Street will be accepting donations at some downtown holiday events including Main Street’s annual boat parade on December 7 in Sims Park. For information on how to donate call (727) 377-1673. Send check donation for Tides of Time to New Port Richey Main Street, PO BOX 515, New Port Richey, FL 34653