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 
This sculpture is the one Rocky Neck would not allow in their park because it is too big and would interfere with children playing there. It was then proposed for the Grant Circle Rotary and my understanding is that the landscapers there objected to it. Now it is proposed to put it between the Harbormaster’s office and the Coast Guard Station at Solomon Jacobs Park.
The area is used by children in the YMCA/city sailing camp. In fact in the picture of the proposed sculpture you can see the box where the children store life jackets and sails and lunches etc. The thing will not only be in the way but looks dangerous and messy from a climbing and seagull poop point of view.
Most importantly however the issue points again to the city government making decisions that cost us and impact us without public discussion. The painted cross walks happened this way. The city council is to decide Tuesday if $30,000 of city “free cash” is to be set aside to support the installation of this “gift” sculpture. There was to be no discussion of this at all until a citizen happened to notice the city council agenda item. Then Melissa Cox and Paul McGeary kindly arranged for the public meeting at Maritime Gloucester on Monday at 6 pm.
There should be a well advertised public process with public discussion of publlc art in the community long before it comes to a city council vote about funding it. Enough “done deals”.
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We will be asking for a delay on this project until there is a public arts policy in place. Right now the city has no policy or procedure for the people to have time to study and discuss and decide on-taxpayer-funded art projects. The Committee for the Arts is writing that policy now.
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I’m thankful that the committee has heeded the request that a policy on public arts is needed and is going to be developed before it’s acceptance and location is decided. However, the Policy should not be decided until the public has had full and adequate discussion and input.
Some will not like the piece itself however, sculpture is like paintings and other artwork. There are a number of styles and genyres and all artwork should be thoroughly considered for placement within the city. I am an artist(painter). I favor and create
“traditional marine paintings”. However, as I have aged, I have learned to enjoy Modern, Futuristic and even Steampunk art. I hope that all who vote on this will be broad-minded enough to consider all forms of sculpture.
I was born and grew up in Gloucester in two long-time families- Hubbards and Dahlmers, I moved back as we raised our family, moved away again but visit frequently. I may dock my boat elsewshere but, Gloucester will always be my Home Port.
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THanks for clarifying how it got to this point and about the other proposed locations and what happened with those options.
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