A new public art installation, ខ្លែងឯក – Singing Kites, has been proposed for the roundabout at Water Tower Rd and SE 8th St, near the NWACC campus.  

The proposal features three 15-foot kite sculptures inspired by klaeng ek, or singing kites, a centuries-old Cambodian tradition.

Klaeng ek kites are traditionally crafted from bamboo and paper and are known for their distinctive design and the melodic sound they emit as they fly. To preserve the auditory aspect, holes will be strategically placed in the sculptures to produce a gentle hum as wind passes through.

The vivid geometric designs echo ikat, a traditional weaving technique that uses materials made from the golden silkworm only found in Cambodia, according to the proposal. 

The project is a collaboration between Shelby Fleming, a sculptor, and Simone Cottrell, a Cambodian-American multidisciplinary artist. Both artists live in Fayetteville and have worked extensively in Bentonville.

During the Cambodian Genocide in the 1970s, Fort Chaffee near Fort Smith housed refugees fleeing the violence. Many families stayed in Northwest Arkansas.

“So we’ve been here, just quietly here,” Cottrell said. “There is a Southeast Asian history here that needs to be heard and seen and experienced.”

The genocide targeted artists and intellectuals, reducing knowledge of Cambodian art and traditions. The artists plan to create programming to educate local residents about the history and traditions related to the art.

Cottrell hopes the project “creates a blueprint of how public art can be not just a static thing, but a way to build and celebrate culture long term.” 

Both artists also emphasized the significance of two women leading this project.

“Women sculptors, it doesn’t happen very often, especially in the public realm. So I think it’s a huge step for two women to propose a public site-specific piece and be able to make one. It’s huge,” Fleming said.

The Public Art Advisory Committee selected the proposal on May 14, and the Traffic Safety and Signage Committee voiced support for the project at its meeting on June 3. Final approval is needed from the City Council, with a vote expected at its next meeting on Tuesday, June 11.

If approved, the artists estimate it will take six to ten months to construct the artwork. The total cost of the project, including materials, installation, and artist fees, is $54,001.36.

City staff are interested in pursuing more public art projects in roundabouts, with tentative plans for the roundabout at John Deshields Boulevard and J Street in the near future.