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Book chronicles Millennium Park sculptures
By LEE CLARK ZUMPE
| Article published on Tuesday, April 29, 2008 |
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| Artist Leslie Fry’s “Nests” blends in with the natural surroundings. |
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SEMINOLE – Along the boardwalk at Pinellas County’s 184.6-acre Boca Ciega Millennium Park in Seminole, amongst the pine trees and palmettos, artist Leslie Fry’s creations harmonize perfectly with the environment and are subject to the same mutability as their surroundings.
In Fry’s new book, “Wild Life: A Public Art Project,” photographer Burk Uzzle captures the creation of the sculptures as well the subsequent decomposition and transformation as nature reclaims them. The 44-page, full color book is available for purchase online at www.lulu.com.
Any park visitor who has spotted one of Fry’s sculptures while strolling along the boardwalk can attest to their fantastical quality, existing just within the perimeters of casual perception but feeling more like a figment plucked from a daydream.
In an essay in the book, Nick Capasso, curator of DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park in Massachusetts, comments on the way the pieces “live at the edge – of the wilderness and of our perception,” and that they act as a “metaphor for the dream world.”
According to Fry, myth-making and mythology played a vital role in the development of the sculptures.
“There is a whole page of images in the book of my inspirations,” the artist said, “mostly from ancient art that depicts mythological beings.”
As the creator of a temporal public sculpture project, Fry planned to document the process from the beginning.
“I knew I'd make a book and a video to "preserve the sculptures" in their original form,” Fry said in a recent interview. “If budget had permitted, I would have made at least one of them in a permanent material.”
Fry explained that given the choice, she would rather make more of an impact with several temporary sculpture installations that she believes will live on in the minds and imaginations of people who saw them.
“If the natural elements had been the only cause of decomposition, the sculptures could last for years,” she said.
Sadly, in addition to the natural elements, Fry’s works have been targeted by vandals. The artist said that she has made plaster sculptures that have been outside for as long as 14 years, so she’s familiar with the ways natural erosion transforms her creations. She’s never had to deal with vandalism, though.
“I was shocked mostly with the immediacy that the park vandalism happened – as soon as the sculptures were installed,” Fry said. “I hadn't even had time to photograph them yet. The two sculptures that kept getting the worst abuse were the "lizard man" and the “pine-cone woman" because they were purposely in highly visible spots that were easy to walk up to.”
Fry restored and repaired them several times, but it was obvious that this would be an ongoing problem.
“So, it turned out to be even more of a statement about human impact on the environment,” she said.
On a positive note, Fry said that park regulars were really upset about the vandalism, and there many gestures of help and concern from the community.
“That kind of community impact is something that public art aspires to,” Fry said.
She commended park supervisor Judy Jarosz and the park staff.
“When the ‘lizard-man’ looked too sad from too many beatings, they made a marker on the boardwalk with a picture of the original sculpture. That kind of thoughtfulness is just one of many examples of the park staff's caring,” she said.
Fry voiced her concerns about what will happen to county parks with the removal of staff.
Fry received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Vermont and a master’s from the Milton Avery Graduate School of the Arts at Bard College.
Boca Ciega Millennium Park is at 12410 74th Ave. N. Hours are 7 a.m. until dark. Call 588-4882 or visit www.pinellascounty.org/park/03_Boca_Ciega.
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Article published on Tuesday, April 29, 2008
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