Letter
Dear Mr. Gittens:
In its meeting of 21 June, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed and approved with comments the concept proposal for the installation of sculptures and metal pavers by artist David Hess in the new Washington Canal Park, located along 2nd Street between I and M Streets, SE.
The Commission members expressed their support for the concept of the proposal, including the scale of the two large sculptures in the context of the park, the patinated finishes of the metals, and the inscribed radial lines on the two sculptures. However, the Commission members cautioned that the amount of text on the sculptures could be distracting and confuse the viewer as to the artistic versus the interpretive intent of the pieces. They suggested that the use of text and words on these sculptures should be eliminated or limited to surface enhancements, and that any descriptive words or interpretive text might be located instead on the proposed cast-metal pavers.
The Commission members delegated final approval to the staff.
Sincerely,
/s/
Thomas E. Luebke, AIA
Secretary
Anthony Gittens
Executive Director
D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities
410 Eighth Street, NW, Fifth Floor
Washington, DC 20004