DESCRIPTION OF CONCEPT
This particular artwork site had been designated and nicknamed by the architectural design team, the welcome mat. That gave me the idea to use the Oriental carpet format for this piece. They also requested that this piece represent Cleveland's image to the world. I decided to use the hand as a symbol of Cleveland's image representing how it was build by the hands of its craftsmen and skilled workers. The central image of the exterior portion shows an outstretched welcoming palm with a simplified map of the area to orient visitors to the area. The central image of the interior is a nod to the nearby Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with its hands on guitars and keyboards. The border includes a continuous band of shaking hands in all kinds of fleshtones to represent Cleveland's ethnic diversity and the spirit of working together and cooperation that helped Cleveland get to where it is. The other two bands of border are hand pictoglyph words, (hand)some, (hand)bag, etc. Handsel, used in the title, means a gift or token for good luck when entering upon a new state or enterprise.

Photo: Hanson