Polish artist's work removed from Boston Common

[suzanne]

From today's Boston Globe: a Polish artist's large sculpture has been removed from Boston Common with the argument that it does not fit in with the rest of the pieces of art there:

www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/01/18/riding_into_exile/

[Jaga]

This is an interesting sculture, maybe the publicity will produce somebody interested to display it. On the other hand - I am not sure whether I would like to have it in teh public park which I am visiting. It is just a bit too dramatic

[pieter]

A lot of good fine (two and three demsional) art is dramatic, cruel, creates negative emotions, is not popular by the people,
but is necassery as good quality art which reflects time, periods in history, developments in the human world or society and has a role next to science, the economy, education, politics and inside the bigger world of culture.
Picasso's "Guernica" counts as one of his most important works, because it reflected his time, and is an eternal reminder
of the crualty of a (Spanish) civil war, and the torture of a civilian population which is bombed.
Ossip Zadkine did the same with his six-meter-high war monument La ville détruite (The destroyed city) at the Leuvehaven in Rotterdam, Holland, which was placed in 1953. Such art is important for remembering the sad parts of our history,
the human suffering and scarifice, but also human dignity, human rights and human sacrifice.
www.zadkine.com/browse/sculpture/bronze/?&limit=1&page=84&PHPSESSID=bc427037a45a4595aaacff6d170c1071

Another example for American soldiers who fell for freedom in the wolrd is the one of "Soldiers mountiung an American flag",
in my memory there is a photograph and a sculpture of that image;
www.sacbee.com/static/live/lifestyle/bookclub/archives/bradley.html

and;

eu.art.com/asp/sp-asp/_/PD--12081093/SP--A/IGID--1479732/Sculpture_of_Three_Soldiers_at_the_Vietnam_Veterans_Memorial.htm?sOrig=CRT&sOrigId=21623&ui=6EBA503243A044109CED907B16147A8B

There will be always art that is difficult, painful and confronting,
because artists have always been interested in the human
stuggle for life and human suffering, because they are part
of that. And it is one of the most important and interesting
subjects. A lot of religious art has the same function.
European artistic tradition is rooted in the suffering of Jesus
Christ, bible stories and so suffering.

I know that there is a differance between the "professionals" view
and the public view, but I am always against putting sculpytures
away in a dusty vault of a museum.
It is important that art is everywhere, because the absense of art
makes places less inspiring and less attractive.
I am against the removal of Andrew Pitynski's sculpture "Partisans,"
because of the Bostons art elite's opportunist reasons.

Pieter

[kaima]

On the other hand, is the public obligated to accept and to forever carry and preserve an artists statement? It is quite a display of ego on the artists part toinsist they have this obligation.

A similar argument is made for preserving the sinking city of Venice. SOme pople want to spend billions in international (or national) funds to preserve this "work of art" of a city. I feel art is like life itstelf, it is born, it lives and eventually it will die. That is quite natural and proper. I am sad to see the US saddle itself with the European style preservation of anything old. In Alaska the private "owners" of the old Kennecott Copper Mine "donated" it to the US, and now the Park Service is spening many millions of tax dollars to preserve the builidings.

I am not saying that one or the other is not correct, but I certainly am saying there should be a public discussion and decision. I see too much of this as a waste of tax dollars.

Kai

[pieter]

You have a point there Kaima, the sculpture could be flexible or dynamical used,
so Andrew Pitynski's sculpture "Partisans", could be placed in San Francisco,
or Warszawa or Krakow if these cities would like to lend or receive this sculpture.
In my view art should be exchanged more between cities and countries.
It already does, but there is so many interesting art in the world, what could
make a journey. In the Netherlands we are always happy whit the exchange
programs with American museums, the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, and
other important Museums in Europe and other continents.
This year is the Rembrandt year, and Duch museums will lend a lot of
Rembrandt paintings from Museums in other countries.

Pieter

[pieter]

In my view we have a week cultural and artistic time nowadays and because
of the inpropper materials and very contemporary subjects (cults, hypes
and flash in the pan fashions), many art won't even last for decades and
certainly not for ever. Only timeless art and pieces of great quality and quintessense
will last. And nowadays that are very few paintings, sculptures and artvideo's.
For example you had thousands of video artists aroudn the world and only
Nam June Paik, Bill Viola, Douglas Davis and Pipilotti Rist wiil be remembered.
www.cmoa.org/collections/film.asp
www.vdb.org/
www.the-artists.org/ArtistView.cfm?id=239B6475-C5CF-11D4-A93800D0B7069B40

[Jaga]

Here is Richard's Poremski (read more about Richard here:http://culture.polishsite.us/aboutporemski.htm)
letter to Boston Mayor:

Attached is my letter from the National Katyn Memorial Foundation (NKMF) to Boston Mayor Menino in regards to the removal of the Partisans Monument. It was fax'd and mailed (with attachments) today, on NKMF stationary.

As you will read, I decided to take a diffrent and unique approach to the situation, departing from the protest norm.
Frank Lanocha, President of the PAC - Maryland Division will also write a protest letter to Mayor Menino ( I am the Division Secretary).

If you wish, you have my permission to diseminate the NKMF letter to the PAC directors/members.

+++++++++++++
Dear Mayor Menino,

I am writing this letter of appeal to you on behalf of the National Katyn Memorial Foundation (NKMF) and it’s many members both here and
abroad. We are aghast that the Partisans Monument has been arbitrarily
removed from it’ place of prominence on Boston Common where it had
majestically rested for the past 25 years. This monument symbolizes the
good fight and personal sacrifice of the citizenry against invaders of the homeland and oppressors of free people everywhere. No doubt we all were considered “partisans” by the British during our War of Independence. Bostonians are keenly aware and very proud of this historical and brave fight, having been such a large and critical part of it. This is why Partisans is in the right location in the right city.

We respectfully ask that Partisans, which has become part of the fabric of Boston over the years, be restored to it’s former location.
Failing that, it should be re-erected in another prominent Boston location.
Under no circumstances should it languish in storage or be otherwise exiled. This is an exquisite and stylized work of art that must be made
available to the viewing public. Not to mention the ultimate ideal that
it represents in the human sprit and soul.

If I may, a few words about Andrzej Pitynski, the sculptor of Partisans: He is an internationally know, highly skilled and respected artist. His art is currently displayed in Boston (lately); New York; Doylestown, PA; Baltimore, MD; Jersey City, Hamilton and Trenton, NJ, and also in his native Poland in Warsaw, Krakow and Ulanow. At each location the
sculptures much appreciated, celebrated and treasured.

We are very proud here in Baltimore that Pitynski is the sculptor of the National Katyn Memorial, located in a very prominent location in our showcase Inner Harbor area. The Katyn Memorial is a soaring gold-leafed, bronze sculpture standing 44 feet tall. It is dedicated to over 25,000 of Poland’s army officers who were brutally and deliberately murdered by

Stalin’s USSR in 1940. For your information, I have enclosed a descriptive
pamphlet and 3 different post card views of the Memorial so that you
can fully understand it’s meaning and appreciate the beauty that was created by the very talented hands of maestro Pitynski.

I thank you for taking the time to read our letter and trust that you will undertake the appropriate remedial action necessary in regards to the
Partisans Monument, late of Boston Common.


Very respectfully yours,

Richard P. Poremski
Chairman – NKMF