LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Public Arts Commission approved funding on September 1 for a stained-glass quilt garden project at the Lexington Senior Center, a second phase of an ambitious public art installation that will feature 11 three-dimensional glass sculptures with incorporated donor plaques.

The commission granted $20,000 in funding for the project, which artist Jennifer and the Friends of Lexington Senior Center had initially requested $30,000 to complete. According to project leaders Christy, the director of aging and disability services, and Mary Beth, secretary for the Friends board, the installation will be positioned at a prominent corner of the senior center building accessible to both pedestrians and vehicles in the parking lot.

The stained-glass sculptures are being designed in a quilt pattern, with varying heights to create visual interest. The Lexington Senior Center serves recreational activities and connections to needed resources for residents aged 60 and older across the community.

Commission members raised detailed questions about design elements, including the placement of donor plaques. Several commissioners expressed concern that plaques mounted on the sides of the sculptures could distract from the artistic focal point. The artist acknowledged the feedback and indicated flexibility in repositioning donor information to the base of the sculptures, a change that would not incur additional costs.

According to project leaders, approximately 12 individual donors have contributed over $3,000 each, and Chase Bank provided $10,000 in corporate sponsorship. A Friends board committee will determine which donors receive recognition plaques under criteria similar to those used by the Lexington Public Library Foundation.

Timeline concerns dominated discussion, with the artist noting that the most significant challenge involves sourcing stained glass from suppliers. The artist said she plans to travel to Cocoa, Florida to hand-select glass that matches her color specifications, estimating that once sourcing is complete, fabrication will take approximately three months. Weather will also affect installation of concrete foundations, the project leaders said.

The Friends board committed to covering any additional costs for post-installation lighting design, noting that existing light fixtures near the planned site require assessment once the sculptures are in place to determine supplemental lighting needs.

The full meeting details are available in the Public Arts Commission archives.