We asked what you want to see in public artwork coming to Salt Lake City. Here’s what you sent.

Fresh public art is coming to Salt Lake City’s west side this summer in a project that officials say will reflect the character of the Fairpark neighborhood.

A city-led process is set to take a step forward later this month when officials release renderings of a sculpture slated for the traffic circle at 500 North and 1300 West. The art advisory board has selected an artist to complete the work but is waiting until a contract has been finalized to announce details.

For now, though, we wanted to know: What do Salt Lake Tribune readers want to see installed at the intersection? We asked last month, and you sent us more than 100 responses through our Google Form, on social media and in the comments section of sltrib.com.

Here’s a taste:

Many riffed on the towering 9th and 9th whale that has inspired a cascade of jokes since its 2022 installation, including the creation of a spoof church worshipping the sculpture. When it comes to art in an intersection, really, how could you resist?:

• “I really, really believe that adding the bottom half of the 9th and 9th whale is what our great city needs.”

• “Here’s an idea — a huge animal not found anywhere near Utah painted in unnatural color. Maybe a pink rhino?”

• “Since we have [the] whale on the east side, let’s stick with the ocean vibe and put palm trees on the west side.”

• “Captain Ahab.”

• “Three dolphins, as they are native.”

Other creatures got some love, too:

• “We should put up a giant lobster.”

• “Turkey, in honor of our neighborhood wild turkeys.”

• “A huge sea gull, wings outstretched.”

• “A huge brine shrimp.”

• “Perhaps a Mormon cricket.”

• “Maybe a sculpture with some waterfowl you might find on the Jordan River.”

• “Since we already have the cat [sculpture] park up the street, how about a dog sculpture?”

• “A cow, sheep, horse, turkey, chicken and pig, to represent the fair.”

Some of you shared ideas rooted in Utah history and culture:

• “One of the ‘Benji’ movies was filmed at the brick mansion a block south of [this] intersection, so a giant statue of Benji the dog.”

• “A statue of Billy Mason, who cut the hair of many Utah Jazz players [at] that locale. Maybe with [Karl] Malone, [Adrian] Dantley, or [Darrell] Griffith in the chair.”

• “How about a prominent female Utahn, Utah educator or athlete.”

Other folks were more worried about getting through the intersection itself:

• “Something that doesn’t block the view of the driver.”

• “I suggest instructions for using a roundabout.”

• “There should be nothing. Drivers handle roundabouts very poorly. Having something to distract them is a bad call.”

A handful of suggestions alluded to persistent issues on the west side:

• “How about a tent city full of homeless people we continue to ignore.”

• “Whatever it is, make it something [that’s] easily cleaned. It will get tagged.”

• “Shopping cart.”

Some of them were out of left field. Points for creativity:

• “A giant piece of saltwater taffy up high on a post. Neapolitan flavor.”

• “A gigantic earthworm.”

• “A giant road cone since that should be our state symbol.”

• “I want to see a statue of a legislator burying their head in their back end.”

Final renderings of the project aren’t far off. Stay tuned; we’ll keep you posted as things develop.