First City Public Sculpture discussion series begins Friday in Vincennes

To celebrate the recent completion of the First City Public Sculpture 2020 Exhibition, a monthly series of guided art discussions will be led by Art Space Vincennes gallery director Andy Jendrzejewski.

The monthly series of guided talks begin this Friday and will occur on the second Friday of the month through May.

Jendrzejewski says amid COVID-19 closures, local galleries have been striving to find alternative ways to engage the community in the arts, and the First City Public Sculpture Exhibition fills that need.

Completed at the end of 2020, the First City Public Sculpture 2020 Exhibition features seven large sculpted works from artists around the nation.

The sculptures are spread across three main sites near downtown: Culbertson Boulevard at the north end of the River Walk, the green space near Clark’s Crossing near Sixth and Perry streets, and one sculpture is located outside of Eyeworks at 223 Main Street.

The Northwest Territory Art Guild, located at 316 Main St., last year selected Amy DeLap and Andrew Jendrzejewski — both retired Vincennes University art professors and the owners of Art Space Vincennes LLC — to lead the project.

Each installed sculpture is on loan from the artist for a three-year period but with an option for a business or individual to buy the artwork and therefore have it permanently installed in Vincennes.

The public art project, which received support from the Indiana Arts Commission, the City of Vincennes and private donors, has provided a bit of an escape and enjoyment in the midst of so much pandemic-specific fear and isolation.

“With the arrival of COVID, the sculpture program took on extra importance in being able to offer art during the pandemic and provide some distraction.

“I think of COVID as not only a health issue but also an economic one and certainly a psychological one,” said Jendrzejewski.

While he knows residents are pining for the return of the First Friday Art Walks, the gallery director says it’s still too soon to gather in small, crowded spaces.

But the outdoor sculpture discussions provide a nice, safe alternative, Jendrzejewski says.

“A lot of people, even at the risk of getting COVID, can’t stand not being with other people. This is one way we can safely do that,” he says of the outdoor event.

Too, he says, while it’s good that people can stroll by and casually enjoy public art, the goal is to get more residents and visitors to comfortably engage with it.

“A series of talks will not just explain it, but it can help get people engaging with art in ways they never have before,” said Jendrzejewski. “It’s an active thing that makes art worthwhile.”

The first public talk is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Friday at the Culbertson Boulevard site, which hosts three of the seven sculptures.

Attendees will first convene near the stone column called “28” that sits just inside the entrance onto the boulevard.

Jendrzejewski says participants can anticipate approximately fifteen minutes of discussion at each sculpture before moving on to the next, which this week will also include the sculptures titled Truth Inside and Uprising.

Culbertson Boulevard is wheelchair accessible, but seating is limited. Attendees who struggle with standing for periods of time are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.

All participants are required to wear face masks and follow social distancing protocol. In the case of inclement weather, the event will be postponed until Saturday. For more information and updates, visit the First City Public Sculpture Project Facebook page or contact Jendrzejewski at 812-887-6145.