St. Augustine receives backlash for a $250,000 art project

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On March 8, the City of St. Augustine issued a national call for artists to complete – from start to finish – a piece of art for the small grassy roundabout at May Street and San Marco Avenue.

The often-busy intersection connects San Marco Avenue to the Francis and Mary Usina Bridge, also known as the Vilano Bridge, via May Street.

The city posted the submission deadline for April 1.

The City’s Public Art Committee, which consisted of Diane Mataraza, Randal Roark, Christina Parrish Stone and Roxanne Horvath, selected Vickie Scuri, Ivan Depeña and Patrick Marold out of 98 responding artists. The final three artists were not St. Augustinians. Horvath, who also serves as the city’s vice mayor, described the committee as well versed in public art.

“It was a hard task to narrow 98 down to three,” she said. “The St. Augustine applicants simply didn’t qualify.”

Meetings and open houses – that included the public – were held throughout the summer between the artists and the Public Art Committee as the field was unanimously narrowed down to Depeña. The proposed structure was then approved by the City Commission.

According to a news release issued by the city, the Miami-born artist holds a master’s degree in architecture from the Harvard Graduate School of Design. Presently residing in North Carolina, Depeña was noted in the Public Art Network Year in Review in 2012, 2018 and 2019. The annual program by Americans for the Arts recognizes 50 public art projects annually.

“We reviewed the concepts and selected the one [Depeña] that we felt was the best for that location,” Horvath said. “It fills the space and doesn't distract the people passing through.”

Touting a price tag of $250,000, the gray, cast-concrete structure with coquina shell and oculi (circular openings in the center of a dome or a wall) entitled "Groundswell" will highlight vegetation or flowers – chosen by Depeña – by allowing light to shine into the planted areas.

“It’s quite exciting,” Horvath said.

In a statement sent to the St. Augustine Record, committee member Parrish Stone underscored how the city followed its best practices for rendering public art projects.

"We were fortunate to select a world-renowned artist with multiple awards for his significant work in cities across America,” she said.

When asked why a local artist wasn’t selected, Parrish Stone said that "often there are no local artists who have experience with projects of this size” and that despite the extreme talent of local artists, the committee chose artists with “more relevant experience.”

“It's also important that we introduce new ideas to the community,” she said.

Parrish Stone described the $250,000 budget as “rather small” for a municipal public art project while being much larger than what most of “our local artists have worked with.”

During the Aug. 26 City Commission meeting, Parrish Stone said the structure reflected St. Augustine's history of the original homes of the indigenous people who lived here. Describing the structure as harmonious and monumental, she also noted that it would require the least maintenance and would satisfy the community.

But the social media backlash surrounding the artistic installation has not been complimentary.

Charles Pappas Jr. likened the artistic installation to the children’s fable, “The Emperor’s New Clothes.”

“Everyone seemed afraid to just say what was on their mind,” he said on Facebook. “The process was explained, the art was explained, and the story behind the art was explained. It represents the indigenous peoples’ huts you see the future carousel through. It blends as a wave in the landscape, its openness allows drivers to see through.

“It sounded nice, but when it takes too much explanation it just may not be the right fit,” he continued. “I certainly was not expecting this. I understand the process and respect the artists that submitted proposals. I just think sometimes we’re too polite to speak our minds. I’m not sure an abstract piece of art fits here. It’s not in a museum or park where you have time to look, think about it, and understand it.”

Other comments described the structure as a “failure," "a waste." One said it "would be great in a park but the art seems wasted in the middle of an intersection." Another called it "a beautiful speed bump."

Public suggestions included planting trees and native wildflowers, erecting an American Flag or even a statue of Martin Luther King Jr.

In a statement sent to The St. Augustine Record via email, Pappas said that he respected the process, underscoring that the public did indeed have a chance to participate.

“It would have been nice if all the submissions were online with a chance to express an opinion,” he said. “I do not have an issue with the artist or the committee. I think the only mistake was to not give more specific guidance in the art RFQ."

According to Parrish Stone, the public had more than a dozen opportunities to provide input.

“At an evening event at The Waterworks about 100 residents met the prospective artists and voiced their opinions,” she said.

Horvath described art as subjective.

“There will always be naysayers,” she said. “They’re judging it before they even see it. Trust the selection committee. Trust in the people that do this for a living.

“Who are the people that are against it?” she said. “I’d like to know their backgrounds.”

Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline also weighed in.

“Art in the public space is often the subject of healthy debate,” she said. “Groundswell is not different. Selected after a long and very public process designed to gather community input, it’s unfortunate there is negativity among some members of the community around something that was intended to provide a positive public benefit.”

Horvath said that a contract has been made with the artist.

According to the city’s communications director Melissa Wissel, there’s still some legwork that needs to be done before ground can be broken.

“Supporting individual artists is one of our high priorities, and we offer many opportunities to participate and earn income from our 'art in public places' programs,” Parrish Stone said. “I'm confident that the May Street roundabout project will be something we can all be proud of.”

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