The necessary decisions concerning the placement and installation of public artwork can be complicated. On one hand, there needs to be specificity and balance in order to accommodate a wide range of aesthetic forms, physical dimensions, engineering requirements, project criteria and the necessities of site preparation. Conversely, as artists contemplate the ambiguities of a project and move toward invention, they should be mindful of any distinctive features that could serve to inspire or influence their thought processes.

Public Art is a unique way to visually or tactilely communicate with the public. It is an interactive medium with the artist providing the tool for communication and the audience reacting with unique and individual perspective and interpretation.

Ideally, artists conceptualize ideas with the intent of creating site-specific, integrated works of art for the public. Such distinguishing characteristics may well include:

• The cultural and historic significance of the area
  
  
• The area's amenities, infrastructure and surrounding natural/artificial landscape
  
  
• The possibility of alternative uses for the site
  
  
• The site dynamics and any features that connect contrasting elements with the surrounding environment
  
  
• The scale of the work as it relates to the dimensions of the site