Sculpture Examples for City Square

The evening before this art stunt, on Monday April 16th, I made a short presentation to a City Council about the new City Square. I spoke favorably for the square itself and commended everyone involved in creating it.

Then I moved on to the empty sculpture pedestal, established to hold a future commissioned bronze of General Adam Stephens — a plan with a problem, because there is supposedly no representation of the General who founded our fair city. Which I am, and many others are, happy about: frankly, another monument to a historical figure would not draw people to our community, and that is what we need, as so many historical downtowns struggle.

I proposed that the Council consider placing a contemporary work of art there instead, and hold a competition for the public and sculptors to participate in. It could be a colorful kinetic abstract piece, an imaginative surreal work made of reclaimed metal, or an energetic abstract work in stone.

Let the public vote on the submissions, and at the same time encourage people to take ownership of their city. Fund the top five submissions to develop their ideas further, then hold another public vote on the final one. Possibly fund the development of all of the other four and place them elsewhere in the city.

Martinsburg has many issues going against it. So on Tuesday the 17th, after seeing the kids off to school, I took the step of putting a toilet in the Square to get people talking about the future of the city, and maybe bring more art into the downtown area. Art can make it more alive, more exciting, and more welcoming.