The public art of Brendan Rose began with one giant open hand, palm raised, as the gesture of peaceful greeting and welcome. A bit of foreshadowing, we think. Starting with this nine-foot tall sculpture in front of City Hall Commons, Rose has earned a special place in Syracuse’s art community.

As the first Syracuse Public Artist in Residence (SPAR), Rose has 12 months to realize his ideal of art as a community-driven activity, one that relies on the ears almost as much as the eyes. “You’ve gotta listen to it all,” Rose says. “The challenge is: how do you filter that through your own artistic sensibilities to produce something?”

Rose, an architecture alum of Syracuse University, has almost five years of experience doing just that, through projects like the “Art Shark” in Lipe Art Park. The shark, his thesis work, stands in the center of the park on West Fayette Street. It includes a convenient canopy to address the lack of shade and invites picnickers and those seeking a cozy place to relax.

Perhaps it was reclining under Rose’s canopy during a balmy day this past summer that the seeds for SPAR were planted.

Though the genesis may be uncertain, Maarten Jacobs is no doubt one of the initiators. Jacobs, a member of 40 Below, a group formed to connect, engage and empower young adults in central upstate New York, has been active on its Public Arts Task Force for the last few years, working to diversify opportunities for artists in the community.

“Brendan was selected as the inaugural SPAR largely due to his proven track record of working collaboratively­ with a variety of community participants to imagine, design and create provocative public art,” Jacobs notes. “I don’t think we could’ve found a better person locally.”

After “Who?” was determined, the organizers turned their attention to “How?” and “Where?”

Enter the Connective Corridor. With major streetscape construction slated to occur in 2011 along University Avenue and portions of East Genesee Street, including enhancements to Forman Park and areas adjacent to the Warehouse, Robbi Farschman, director of the Connective Corridor, was eager to include public art in the mix. “When I read the proposal, I could see the vision and knew exactly how we could help.” With funds from a grant for public art from Empire State Development Corporation, the Corridor immediately agreed to cover the labor and material costs for the two pieces that will remain by year’s end.

Though the initiative still seeks $10,000 via one or two corporate sponsorships, this groundswell of support means Rose will be bringing his vision to “Environments,” a course that will teach SU industrial design students to see the deeper meaning of an object. Where most courses are bound to studio space, the group has worked with JF Real Estate to find a double-height storefront in the State Tower Building, which will enable the public to see the artwork come alive in real time.

During the process, Rose will also take to the streets to gather feedback and invite people to partake in the construction. Experts have their place as well. As his work comes together, he’ll seek partnerships with other artists, balancing their opinions with those of the city residents, who will ultimately own the sculptures.

“I’ve never had (so many) resources going into a piece before,” Rose muses. Now, with all of these soon-to-be assets at his fingertips and voices in his ears, his charge will be to create before the concrete dries. We believe he’s up to the challenge!