New Vista Sculpture Project | Senate Street Art Update

Expansion of Public Art in the Columbia Vista

Another piece of public art will soon join the Dawn Staley statue along Senate Street in the Columbia Vista. One Columbia for Arts and Culture and the Congaree Vista Guild are actively collecting qualifications from South Carolina artists to design and build a new sculpture for the median in the 900 block of Senate Street. The organizations set the project budget at $18,000 to cover design, materials, fabrication, engineering, and installation costs. Hospitality tax dollars fund the initiative.

Public art administrator Pamela Zaljak stated that the selection process involves the Vista’s public art committee reviewing submissions to pick three finalists. Each finalist receives $250 to develop a formal proposal. The committee then selects one winning design. This process ensures artists receive payment for their conceptual work, according to Zaljak. She noted that organizers want something eye-catching that reflects the district vibe rather than adhering to a rigid theme.

Establishing a Sculpture Corridor

This new sculpture will occupy the section of the Senate Street median closer to Assembly Street. That specific stretch is currently empty. Other sections of the same median already host three existing sculptures. Organizers view this as a starting point for what could eventually become a sculpture garden. Plans for the future may include additional pieces or benches to accommodate pedestrians, though they intend to add one project at a time.

Existing installations already turn this area into a notable corridor for public art. Works include the "I Love You" sculpture by Bob Doster, a piece titled "Her Heart" honoring artist Anastasia Chernoff, and a Peace Pole. The bronze statue of University of South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley remains the most prominent feature in the median. It sits near the Pastides Alumni Center and faces the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.

Growth and Historical Significance of the Vista

Public art investment tracks with the recent physical growth of the corridor. The former restaurant property at 931 Senate St. currently undergoes transformation into a seven-story, 221-unit mixed-use apartment building. Congaree Vista Guild executive director Abby Anderson noted that this influx of residents makes the area an ideal location for more visual installations. The vision is to turn the corridor into a space where people stroll and spend time.

This project sits within a broader strategy for the district. The Guild has added several pieces over the last two years, such as "The Convergence" on Park Street and the "Kaleidoscope of Columbia" mural at the Lincoln Street Tunnel entrance. A sculpture titled "Traverse" joined the collection at the tunnel's south entrance in June. Work continues on a lighting installation inside that tunnel scheduled for this fall.

Art defines the history of the Vista. Before it transformed into a primary entertainment and hospitality hub, artists occupied the area's abandoned warehouses and studio spaces. That influx drew early visitors to the district. Anderson emphasized that the current support for public art acts as a celebration of that history. It keeps the original character of the district alive while the city center matures.