Wait for worthwhile sculpture
According to the newspaper article Nov. 18 on the Healing York sculpture choices, some felt it was difficult to come up with a concept to relate the story of Healing York.
The choices did not appear relevant to the social problems to be addressed by the sculpture. Looking at them no one would know what it stood for. The figures all appear to be Caucasian. One figure has an angel and appears to have a religious connotation. No identification was included to explain the reason it was created.
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I would like to see the selection process put on hold. Other artists could be sought out to submit bids for a work of art that is more meaningful and then the selection process could resume.
This is a good opportunity for the Mayor to show the citizens of York that he is listening to them and acting according, even if it takes a little longer to come up with a worthwhile sculpture.
I suggest a tall but narrow piece that would resemble a quilt blowing slightly in the wind so it would show some movement and not be a stiff piece. On the one side would be inscribed the story of York's riots, what ensued and the goals of Healing York. This would cover the basics of who, what, where, why, when and how. That would tell people looking at it exactly what it stands for and why it is there. Then on the opposite side could be a patchwork quilt design. In the squares/quilt patches could be inscribed some of the goals of Healing York's five year initiative. Other patches could either contain an actual photo or a three dimensional relief of the faces of the main players with their names, dates of birth (and death where appropriate) underneath to identify them and relate them to the story side. The patches could be made of different color materials (stone, marble, cement...) to represent the diversity of York's population. It would show how everyone can play a part in coming together to help heal York.
Kathleen Rauhauser
York City
Forget the feel-good symbolism of some tacky piece of art and spend more time and money on reclaiming the streets from the lawless thugs who make York an urban battle zone. If all of these criminals must be jailed or killed, let the work begin in earnest. Art is for artists. Public spaces are for the public, not perps, pimps and pushers.