After almost a decade, a beloved art installation is back in town and brightening up the skyline above downtown Pensacola.
Crews were out this week hanging colorful umbrellas in Jefferson Alley, the pedestrian corridor running the length of the Jefferson Street Garage and behind several Palafox Street businesses.
The art installation, Pensacola’s Umbrella Sky Project, features rows of umbrellas suspended in the air and is a collaboration effort between the Downtown Improvement Board, downtown property owners and the city of Pensacola.
The umbrellas first appeared in Pensacola in the fall of 2017 as part of a Foo Foo Festival installation, which is a collection of festivals, exhibits, performances and art installations that take place each year in November.
While the Umbrella Sky installation will not be tied to Foo Foo Fest this time around, the goal of the art piece remains the same: to create a vibrant gathering space and visual focal point for downtown visitors, residents and employees to enjoy year-round, according to the statement from organizers.
Composed of 300-plus rainbow umbrellas and translucent paper, the installation has remained a community favorite despite its long absense.
“We’ve probably been asked about bringing Umbrella Sky back more than any other project downtown,” Walker Wilson, executive director of the Downtown Improvement Board, previously said in a statement. “People connected with it because it created energy, excitement and a reason to explore downtown Pensacola. We felt like now was the right time to bring that feeling back.”
Wilson hopes the installation will support locally owned businesses, increase foot traffic and continue activating overlooked public spaces throughout downtown.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Fan-favorite Umbrella Sky installation returns to downtown Pensacola
Reporting by Brittany Misencik, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Brittany Misencik, Pensacola News Journal | USA TODAY Network
