‘Butterfly’ effect in Clinton

Clinton will see new public art around town very soon, with the selection of this year’s winner, Benton and Sons Fabrication Co.’s 14-foot tall sculpture, Blue Butterfly, which will be on display in late summer on the East Park portion of the Sampson Community College campus, near the new walking trail.

“We are thrilled to continue the public art initiative of adding temporary sculpture to public spaces in Clinton,” Lisa Turlington, the dean of Advancement at Sampson Community College, said in an prepared statement emailed to The Independent. “The college appreciates the opportunity to be a part of the project that brings energy and whimsy to our campus. Visitors to Sampson East Park will surely enjoy the presence of the giant blue butterfly. It is exciting to see Sampson County growing as a hive of creativity with new galleries, studios, and events for the arts.”

The idea to display more art throughout Clinton was brought up in 2019 when the City of Clinton adapted its Economic Development Strategy Plan. There was a push to include more public art at that time, a move supported by many in the community. This led to the City of Clinton, Sampson Community College, the SCC Foundation and the Sampson Arts Council partnering to create a public art committee to bring the idea to reality last year with a call out to artists to submit their proposals for temporary art that could be showcased in Clinton.

In 2023, the first public art displays, beyond the millstone erected in downtown, went on display, after residents had an opportunity to select their favorites.

And this year, the committee — and voters — did the same.

According to Turlington, the public art committee sent out a call for artists in January before reviewing all the different proposals submitted. They chose three finalists and put them to a public vote. The finalists were Midsummer by Hanna Jubran, Digital Gate II by Jim Gallucci and Blue Butterfly by Benton and Sons Fabrication Co. in Pikeville.

Turlington said when the vote ended on May 3 there were 700 responses, with Blue Butterfly winning hands up, garnering 75 percent of the total votes cast.

The sculpture will be installed at the walking trail in East Park on the campus of SCC at the intersection of N.C. 24 and Airport Road. Installation will take place mid to late August, according to Turlington, and the public is welcome to come out and watch it being installed.

The second place sculpture, Midsummer, will be installed at the All-America City Park in downtown Clinton. There is no time frame for when that will be installed at this time.

“The City of Clinton and Clinton Main Street Program are looking forward to placing a second sculpture by Hanna Jubran in All-America Park as part of the rotating sculpture program which was identified as a strategy in the Clinton Economic Development Plan to bring vibrancy to our community,” Mary Rose, the city’s Planning Director/Main Street director, said.

Turlington said private funding will cover the annual lease and that the installation site was constructed with support from the City of Clinton, the Sampson Arts Council and the SCC Foundation.

Blue Butterfly will replace last year’s winner, Waterdrop by Hanna Jubran. It will be on display for at least a year before it is replaced.