“Synesthesia” by Baltimore artist Becky Borlan has been chosen as the winner of the Gene Lynch Urban Park art contest, Montgomery Parks officials announced.
A public vote and a months-long selection process led to the selection of “Synesthesia” among four finalists. It will be permanently installed in Gene Lynch Urban Park in the summer of 2024.
The mirrored surface of “Synesthesia” will reflect the action happening in the park thanks to its highly polished stainless-steel panels. There will be a layer of laminated glass or acrylic containing graphic film that creates a kaleidoscope of colors; colorful fins will project out of the main wall to give the piece dimension.
Sculpture panels will attach to the columns of the pergola structure of the park. Day or night, “Synesthesia” will be a focal point of the park thanks to the integrated LED lighting.
“We are so excited about this next step toward making Gene Lynch Urban Park a visually vibrant landmark in downtown Silver Spring,” said Montgomery Parks Project Manager Linda Komes. “The park is in a commuter crossroads near the Silver Spring Metro, the Paul Sarbanes Transit Center, the future Purple Line and several regional bike trails, and this playful artwork will help define the park as a special destination, a place to pause and take in the scene.”
The Gene Lynch Park art project selected “Synesthesia” from more than one hundred submissions. A panel of community representatives selected four finalists, and more than fifteen hundred people voted by phone, mail, or online to select “Synesthesia” as the winner.
“It’s an honor to have the opportunity to contribute to Silver Spring’s vibrant downtown,” Borlan said. “I can’t wait to dive into the process of creating a captivating and colorful artwork for Gene Lynch Park.”
Gene Lynch Urban Park opened in downtown Silver Spring last June.
Photo Courtesy of Montgomery Parks