There have been examples of public art in the City of Gloucester that are a tribute to this city and are loved by the people here because they speak to the heart of who we are:
The Committee for the Arts has done a wonderful job in taking care of and publicizing the beautiful and historically significant City Hall Murals.
seARTS did it right when the Partner with an Artist chose Tricia O’Neill’s downtown mural of her quote from Vincent Ferrini.
Ken Hruby’s bronze in the courtyard of the Cape Ann Museum.
There is the bronze sculpture of Fitz Henry Lane next to the historic Fitz Henry Lane House, a historic house on the harbor side of Rogers Street. The three story stone Gothic Revival building was built in 1849 by the artist and was his home until his death in 1865.
And we cannot forget the Man at the Wheel !!!!!!! A triumph of figurative public sculpture.
Now one would think…well those have gone well…why not just continue as we have been?
Because it is not enough that an individual, a sculptor, with a technically skillfully fabricated work, as nice as he is, and having connections to Gloucester, has offered to contribute his work to the city.
I trained as a sculptor at Boston University School for the Arts and got my Masters and Bachelors degrees there and taught there in sculpture and worked with some of the best sculptors of this century. I welded in steel and cast from clay to plaster to bronze. I would not expect because I live here that a work of mine, should I want to contribute it, would be placed in front of the community without a rigorous process to determine WHERE it should go and WHETHER it is right for Gloucester.
I am aware of a lot of discord and discomfort around this work. It is not enough to say in time we will get used to it.
Museums do not accept donations without a process of selection.
As Gloucester ventures more actively into the realm of more public art for this city we need to have a more critical process in place. It is important that a new Public Arts Policy be developed that sets the standards and that assures engagement by the people of Gloucester and our local artists in the selection of public art.
Other cities have done this…the City of Boston has had a specific “Task Force for Public Art”. They have worked with the neighborhoods. I was a member of that task force for 2 years.
I therefore urge that the City of Gloucester delay any vote to set aside $30,000 of public funds for the installation of the David Black sculpture at Solomon Jacobs Park until a rigorous review and public discussion of the proposal and alternative locations is completed.
Respectfully,
Ruth Mordecai
I am very sorry I cannot be at the meeting. I have had a plan in place for several months to leave for 2 weeks on Monday morning.
Editor Note:
If someone feels strongly that the piece should happen I’d be happy to post their thoughts as well.
-Joey
Good Morning Gloucester 