The CDA Arts Commission met this week, and aren’t happy that the artist for the controversial “Monument to Peace and Unity” artwork didn’t follow through with the original proposal depicting the monument as a large golden metalwork installation.
The entire artwork cost the city $75,000 to acquire it from Ai Qiu Hopen, a Chinese artist based in Virginia. Many commission members including Jennifer Drake, Troy Tymeson, and John Bruning are speaking out.
“It is quite literally lackluster,” said Jennifer Drake.
Troy Tymeson offered a probable explanation saying that the artist deviated from the original proposal “based on pressure on what the monument was called by others during that period of time.” This is in reference to local citizens dubbing it as CDA’s own Tower of Babel; the Biblical story of a godless city that attempted to unite humankind under a single language… a kind of “We are the World” opus to their own strength.
John Bruning and Chairman Mary Lee Ryba suggested that since the city owns the statue, it has the authority to dedicate funds to re-paint the statue gold.
The Virginian artist has been contacted, and seems to prefer the brick red color as it is an earthy tone “symbolizing clay and soil.” The artist also shares similar concerns that other colors could be misinterpreted.
