The City of Bentonville’s Public Art Advisory Committee (PAAC) is pleased to announce the permanent installation of Found by sculptural artist Timothy Jorgensen in Train Station Park. A public unveiling of the work will be held at the park, 400 S. Main St., at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 14.

Found is a 9-feet-tall sculpture consisting of different styles of letters that form “Bentonville” in a stacked jumble. Many letters will have a polished steel face that will reflect the viewer.

“Found stands as a beacon of pride, reflecting the faces of people as they pass by; capturing a moment of their time to reflect on who they are and where they come from,” Jorgensen said. Jorgensen, who is from Cedar Falls, Iowa, is a full-time instructor in the Department of Art at the University of Northern Iowa. He earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts from that university and earned a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Wisconsin. His work is found in several locales throughout the Heartland, including at the Ames Municipal Airport in Ames, Iowa. Jorgensen’s work has been on view in 15 exhibitions over the past seven years.

Last fall, PAAC issued a Request for Proposals for Artwork inspired by large-letter installations from around the world. The committee selected Jorgensen’s proposal out of 23 received.

The City of Bentonville established a public art policy and PAAC in 2007 to facilitate art in “successful and engaging public spaces of distinctive character, where citizens will encounter works of public art that will surprise and delight with artwork that celebrates the city’s history, its entrepreneurial spirit, and growing diversity.”  

Found is the 17th permanent or temporary work introduced through PAAC in partnership with Visit Bentonville, contributing to the more than 130 public artworks found throughout Bentonville.

PAAC committee members are appointed by the mayor and approved by Bentonville City Council. The committee is responsible for:

- Serving in an advisory capacity to the council for recommending artwork to be placed on public property;
- Providing technical advisement on the development of a public art program;
- Following the adopted Public Art Policy for the City of Bentonville.

The city and PAAC also adopted the Bentonville Art Strategic Plan for 2022-2024 to “be used as a roadmap to help city leadership and citizens understand the long-term value and direction of public art in Bentonville.” Core principles of the plan include: fostering diversity, equity and inclusion; enhancing the community’s visual environment; promoting awareness of the city’s social, cultural, and historical composition; and increasing excitement, access and engagement with public art.

These city-sponsored efforts are accompanied by the work of other organizations – such as OZ Art NWA, Crystal Bridges, and the Momentary – that contribute to making Bentonville a premier cultural destination.  

Guest speakers at the unveiling of Found will include Jorgensen and Mayor Stephanie Orman. It will be followed by photo and interview opportunities.

For additional information on this and other public artwork in Bentonville, visit www.bentonvillepublicart.com.