DPAC, Monument Maintenance and a Norshor Theater Call for Art

Leif Erickson

Attending a Duluth Public Arts Commission meeting last month opened my eyes to the monumental task that this all-volunteer team is committed to. One of their many responsibilities is to maintain the the many statues that are distributed throughout the city.

One of the first things tourists notice in Canal Park, for example, are the manifold seagulls that are active on the waterfront. When you look at the statues, you often see birds standing majestically atop these emblems of the city. And what you may not notice is how clean these statues are, considering how many times they have been pooped on over the years. The reason they are clean is because there is a maintenance regimen. Maintaining the statues is a responsibility most everyone takes for granted.

No, the volunteers who serve on the DPAC are not out there scrubbing statues. Rather, they maintain the spreadsheets indicating which statues next need attention.

These thoughts came to mind when ten days ago the News Tribune broke a story that the current status of the city's Viking ship replica was again in jeopardy. The ship used to sit outside in the elements in Leif Erikson Park, a gift from Norway during the 1920's that the city promised to cherish, as in "take care of." The weather eventually got the better of her and instead of being something beautiful to adorn the park it became an eyesore, especially for those who loved her.

A few years ago the ship was moved in order to be repaired, restored, rejuvenated. I don't know all the details but the story is that the storage space will soon no longer be available. The restoration project was not a DPAC project per se, but was being managed by an ad hoc Save Our Ship committee.

What IS on the docket for DPAC, however, is the matter of addressing an issue that came up as a result of all these new discussions. Someone noticed that the base of the statue reads, "LEIF ERIKSON, DISCOVERER OF AMERICA."

Now it makes sense that Northlanders would attempt to draw attention to Leif Erikson, since all our history books have taught us that ol' Chris Columbus was the great hero who first set foot in the New World. The problem with both these designations is that they imply that the people who were already living here were not people. The Native residents arrived from somewhere, yes? And it most definitely preceded either of these European explorers.

Bottom line for DPAC, then, is what to do with that inscription on the base of the statue. Do they need to put an asterisk there and chisel in some fine print on the very bottom? Cover it all with a new bronze plate with alternative language?

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For what it'w worth, the cast bronze Leif Erikson statue was created by John Karl Daniels (1874-1978), a Norwegian immigrant who grew up in St. Paul. He trained in two different art schools before setting up his own studio. The Leif Erikson statue was dedicated in 1956, and relocated to Leif Erikson Park in 1990.

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ATTN: ARTISTS
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

The city, via the Duluth Public Arts Commission, is seeking to have an installation inside the Skywalk in the area adjacent to the NorShor Theater. It's an unusual space and you will want to check it out. It will require imagination, but I can see why the city would like to dress it up.

Part of the RFQ reads as follows:
The Project can span the approximate 68 feet of the Western wall. This art project will cover a large brick wall that is approximately 68' in length and varies between 7' - 9' in height (see attached drawing) in the skywalk section that is just inside the NorShor entrance from the skywalk that comes from the Greysolon Plaza. The project must incorporate and acknowledge the history of theatre and cultural phenomena in what is now known as Duluth and the selection committee is open to multiple interpretations of what that means.

BUDGET
The overall budget for this project may not exceed $9,000. Furthermore, finalists will be granted $200 stipends to cover costs and transportation in order to present, if selected for RFP process.
Deadline for submissions is in September 18, so read through the information and throw your hat in the ring if there is interest.

Here is the announcement at KBJR. 

Here is the three-page RFQ: 

http://www.duluthmn.gov/media/543863/rfq-norshordoc.pdf

And here is a drawing along with photos of the space
or the URL if link doesn't work.
http://www.duluthmn.gov/media/543862/rfq-attachement-norshors-brick-wall-measurements-photos.pdf

Related Links
Viking Ship Charting New Coordinates After Many Storms
The Clayton-Jackson-McGhie Memorial

Meantime, art goes on all around you. Engage it

Invitation to Next Sunday's Free Concert in Leif Erikson Park to Restore the Armory

Concert Sponsors

Here's more information on next weekend's free concert in Leif Erikson Park. We are officially less that one week away from showtime and everything's in order for the show. The event will feature music by Courtney Yasmineh Band, Lonnie Knight & Friends, The Boomchucks, Sarah Burton, Gene LaFond and Amy Grillo, and Rich Mattson and Germaine Gemberling in one of Duluth's many beautiful settings.

The event organizer is the Armory Arts and Music Center (AAMC) with it's chief aims being to raise awareness for the 100th Anniversary Celebration that will take place later this fall, and to share their vision for the Armory's restoration. The building itself is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

I have to insert here that it made some of us ill to see the heart-breaking accident that took place this weekend at the Sacred Heart Music Center. Sacred Heart has been a wonderful host for several of the concerts and events the AAMC has created on behalf of the Armory restoration.

Here's an outline of featured artists that are lined up to perform next Sunday. There will also be food trucks, beer trucks and sunshine. (The latter is not guaranteed, but they are working on it.) There will be an abundance of smiling, foot tapping and probably some dancing.

Duluth Armory Music Fest
3:00 p.m. – 3:40 p.m. Boomchucks  
3:50 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Gene LaFond & Amy Grillo 
4:40 p.m. – 5:20 p.m. Rich Mattson & Germaine Gemberling 
5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Sarah Burton  
6:40 p.m. - 7:40 p.m. Lonnie & Friends 
7:50 p.m. – 9:20 p.m. Courtney Yasmineh Band  

Kevin Odegard presents latest Armory banner.

Meantime, life goes on all around you. Be a part of it.

Creative Destruction vs. Preservation: The Duluth Armory

“ I know you think you understand what you thought I said but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant” ~Alan Greenspan

The stage at Leif Erikson Park

I've been reading Alan Greenspan's insightful book The Age of Turbulence. As chairman of the Federal Reserve Greenspan has had the privilege of working with two decades of presidents, holding a front row seat to the fall of communism, numerous bull and bear markets, the burst tech and housing bubbles, various global financial crises and the horror of 9/11. In the midst of the 1990's tech bubble he famously warned of investors' irrational exuberance, to no avail.

Among other things the book has much to say about the wealth-generating power of free market capitalism (which can be thwarted by corrupt governments or the lack of a free press) and the concept of creative destruction. What creative destruction means is that things that are less efficient eventually fall by the wayside when better ways of doing things come along.

Examples abound, but a few might include the refrigerators and freezers that replaced the ice industry in which blocks of ice were cut from glaciers and transported to "warehouses" to be stored and cut into blocks for people with ice chests. Automobiles replaced horses and jet airline travel replaced that slow boat to China. In several places Greenspan notes how this principle of creative destruction is at the heart of progress.

In the late 90's Greenspan married TV journalist and news anchor Andrea Mitchell. During their Venice honeymoon his ideas about creative destruction were challenged when he saw that some of the world's most cherished places have changed the least.

The financial and commercial centre of Venice is known as the Rialto and has been there for centuries. Though the area was settled by the ninth century it wasn't an important district until two centuries later when Venice's market moved there, and in the following century a boat bridge was set up across the Grand Canal providing access to it. This was soon replaced by the Rialto Bridge which has since then become iconic.

In Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, Shylock asks, "What news on the Rialto?" and later, in Act III Solanio makes the same inquiry.

All this passed through Greenspan's mind as he considered the Rialto's grand heritage and that creative destruction should not be a hardened firm principle in all things. Preservation has its place.

ALL THIS TO SAY that this same conflict is being played out in our communities today, where decisions are being made whether to raze buildings to raise new structures that are more energy efficient or to preserve these remnants of our history. The Duluth Armory became a focal point where this discussion was being played out when ten years ago developers hoped to build condos on that property with its view of the lake. Today the Armory still stands, with it's advocates preparing to celebrate her 100th birthday this fall.

This year the Duluth Armory turns 100 years old in November, 2015 and the Armory Arts and Music Center (AAMC) is hosting an pre-birthday celebration on Sunday, September 6th in Leif Erikson Park across London Road from the Duluth Armory. They're calling it the Armory Arts & Music Center’s Salute to the Historic Duluth Armory Music Fest. It will be a free community festival featuring local, regional, national and international artists performing live at the historic Leif Erikson Park outdoor stage.

The concert's primary aim is to raise community awareness that fund-raising has been continuous for the AAMC's mission  "to preserve the Duluth Armory and its historic value to American culture and the arts, while encouraging its reuse, placing emphasis on arts and education, including the AAMC’s successful Music Resource Center program." The Armory Arts and Music Center is a 501(c)(3) tax-deductible organization so your sponsorship is tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

According to Nelson French, who serves on the AAMC board, "The Armory Arts and Music Center Board of Directors has been busy this year working with community leaders and interested developers to put together a package that will ensure the historic elements of the Duluth Armory are preserved while developing and implementing the right plan to ensure the building will live on and inspire generations for at least another 100 years." The Board's sustained enthusiasm for the project over many years is admirable.

In addition to securing long term protection and economic viability of the building, AAMC is focusing its efforts on the following priorities:
• Strengthening the operation of our Music Resource Center-Duluth youth program
• Designing and developing a state of the art AAMC Music Resource Center in the Duluth Armory to house our youth music program
• Providing for a unique music legends historic museum and tribute space

This event is but a prequel to the real celebration. 100 years of service to the community, and host of major events. For more information visit DuluthArmory.org.

Meantime, life goes on all around you. Let's celebrate it.