For Immediate Release: May 24, 2006
Contact: Boston Art Commission sarah.hutt@cityofboston.gov 617-635-3249
or Dorchester Arts Collaborative Joyce Linehan, 617-282-2510, joyce@ashmontmedia.com
Artist Joe Wheelwright of Dorchester Commissioned for Peabody Square Art Installation
Artist to present his work and vision at June 12 Art Talk, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. at 11 Humphreys Street in Dorchester, free and open to the public.
Mayor Thomas M. Menino’s Office of Arts, Tourism & Special Events, the Dorchester Arts Collaborative (DAC), St. Mark’s Area Main Street, and the Boston Art Commission have announced that Dorchester sculptor Joe Wheelwright has been selected to create a work of art for Dorchester’s Peabody Square. DAC will host a public Art Talk event with Wheelwright on June 12, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m., at his studio at 11 Humphreys Street in Dorchester. “This is a great addition to the redevelopment of Peabody Square,” Mayor Menino said. “Joe Wheelwright is a well-respected artist, and I am extremely pleased to have his work added to the collection of public art in Boston.”
Wheelwright is a renowned Boston sculptor who works in a variety of materials, including stone, bronze and wood. Recently, his monumental works in stone and wood were featured in a year-long solo exhibition at the DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park The artist lives and works in Dorchester and Vermont, where he maintains a bronze foundry.
“I couldn’t be happier,” said DAC Board President Joyce Linehan. “In our own neighborhood, just a stone’s throw from the proposed site, we have a world-class artist whose work is sought after by other cities and towns. I think it’s fitting that we have a work of his as well.” Mr. Wheelwright’s proposal was one of twenty that was reviewed the Dorchester Arts Collaborative with significant input from the community.
The Menino Administration has committed $150,000 for a design planning study for the reconstruction of all of Peabody Square. The DAC will work to raise $125,000 for fabrication and installation of Wheelwright’s work. Meanwhile, with funding from Trinity Financial, the artist will begin to work with the Peabody Square redesign team and neighborhood groups to ensure that his work is integrated in the overall project for optimum aesthetic and functional benefit. The artist selection was made possible by a planning grant Edward Ingersoll Browne Trust Fund of the City of Boston, and was managed by UrbanArts, who guided a team of neighborhood residents through the proposal review process.
For more information contact Sarah Hutt in the Mayor’s Office of Arts, Tourism & Special Events at 617-635-3245. For information on the Art Talk event on June 12, call 617-288-8700.
For Immediate Release: January 22, 2006
Contact: Joyce Linehan, 617-282-2510, joyce@ashmontmedia.com
PEABODY SQUARE PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE ANNOUNCES SCHEDULE FOR ARTIST SELECTION PROCESS
The Peabody Square Public Art Project, a joint endeavor of the Dorchester Arts Collaborative (DAC) and St. Mark's Area Main Street (SMAMS) has set its schedule for the artist selection process. This planning project, with the objective of commissioning an artist or artist team to create public art for Peabody Square in Dorchester, is being managed by the UrbanArts Institute at Massachusetts College of Art, and is made possible by a planning grant from the Edward Ingersoll Browne Trust Fund of the City of Boston. The Peabody Square Public Art Committee (PSPAC) is made up of members of DAC and SMAMS, as well as other neighbors and stakeholders.
Mon. Jan. 30
Release request for proposals. [MS Word] [PDF] [Site photos]
Sat. Feb. 4, 10:00 am - 12:00 noon
Pre-proposal community meeting and site visit hosted by UrbanArts and PSPAC. All interested people are encouraged to attend. Meet at Ashmont Grill to begin site walk.
Mon. Mar. 6
Intent to apply deadline for artists.
Mon. March 27
Artist proposal deadline
Fri. March 31-Fri. April 7
Proposals will be on exhibit at the Boston Public Library Codman Square Branch (690 Washington St.) during regular library hours. Interested people are encouraged to attend and make comments on the proposals in the comment book that will be provided.
Mon. April 3, 5:30-8:00 p.m.
PSPAC and UrbanArts invite the community to a reception, for an opportunity to see the proposals and discuss the selection process before final decisions are made.
Sat. April 8
PSPAC reviews proposals and narrows field to three artists, each of which will receive $1000 for their proposal. These three finalists will be interviewed by the PSPAC at a later date.
Mon. May 1
Selected artist announced. This will probably involve a public event. More information to be announced.
The Dorchester Arts Collaborative (DAC) in conjunction with St. Mark's Area Main Street (SMAMS) received a $15,000 planning grant from the Edward Ingersoll Browne Trust Fund of City of Boston to begin planning for a work of public art in the soon-to-be-redesigned Peabody Square. The Mayor Thomas M. Menino Administration, which has also committed $150,000 for a design planning study for the reconstruction of all of Peabody Square, has asked the Committee to choose an artist by May 2006. The committee is working closely with the Boston Art Commission in the Mayor's Office of Arts Tourism & Special Events. This is a design development grant only and does not include any construction or fabrication money. This will necessitate fundraising by PSPAC for completing the project.
Said DAC Board President Joyce Linehan, "We know that we are trying to choose an artist more quickly than is usual with these kinds of projects, but we hope that by having an artist in place to work with the engineers the City hires, and working closely with the Boston Art Commission, we'll save money AND have artwork that's more fully incorporated into the landscape. We consider ourselves very lucky in terms of timing.?"
For more information about the Peabody Square Public Art Project, please contact Ricardo Barreto at UrbanArts, at rbarreto@massart.edu or 617-879-7970.
