NATCHITOCHES – A sculpture installation by Natchitoches artist James Borders is one of 100 finalists for the CODAworx People’s Choice Award.  The juried competition selected the TOP 100 most successful design projects that integrate commissioned art into an interior, architectural or public space and is now open to public voting.  People’s Choice voting will extend through June 30 with the winners announced in August.

Voting is available at: https://www.codaworx.com/codaawards/2022-codaawards-top-100/?fbclid=IwAR1U0fO9DpSc008hTD2bJgOHpOLgCvUIhoKeUpWqRe55bKL5ARjQa-nwyTU

Voters can vote for as many projects as they like, but only once per project.

Borders, a former instructor of art at Northwestern State University, created the piece “Faith,” in honor of his late wife, Lisa Chesser Borders who lost her battle with breast cancer in 2018.  The sculpture also honors Avis Borders Fletcher, James’ mother, and Margaret Pauline Chesser, Lisa’s mother. Both passed in 2020.  The sculpture, unveiled last June, is a focal point at Trinity Baptist Church, 527 Howard St., in east Natchitoches.

“The central structure, the rectangle, represents the church,” Borders said.  “It contains the trinity that is symbolized by three spears. The church is open, with the negative space, to always represent new flocks and being able to let them in. There are seven arcs that represent the creation and the day of rest.  The two vertical arcs if you look to one side, you can see is the fish symbol.”

CODAworx is an organization that connects artists, designers and architects with industry to to match creative talent with opportunities for commissioned art projects.