NASHUA, NH – The Nashua International Sculpture Symposium kicked off the seventeenth annual public art event with an opening ceremony on Thursday. A crowd of about 35 local supporters of the arts, board members, both past and present, and this year’s sculptors were on hand to celebrate the occasion at the Picker Arts Building.
The Nashua International Sculpture Symposium (NISS) has been hosting this event every year since 2008 and it is the only international symposium held in the United States. Artists worldwide are invited to Nashua for three weeks to create public art. To date, 49 NISS original sculptures have been produced and permanently installed for public viewing around the city. A PDF map of the installed pieces can be downloaded here.
Gail Moriarty, President of the NISS, addressed the gathering first by acknowledging the support that the symposium receives from the community and the gathered group. The Symposium is an all-volunteer enterprise with local families and individuals donating meals and housing for the sculptors for the duration of the event. “ Your support is how we can present this event,” noted Moriaty.
Nashua Mayor Jim Donchess spoke, noting the value of public art, particularly the works from the NISS, and how it impacts the quality of life for city residents. He then introduced this year’s sculptors and described their artistic backgrounds.
This year’s sculptors are Anna Korver from New Zealand/Benin, Kevin “Kov” Percevault from France/UK, and Evan Morse from the U.S. A fourth sculptor from South Korea was scheduled to participate but health issues forced her to withdraw.
Jim Larson, the symposium Creative Director, also greeted the sculptors and the crowd. He noted the “Storytellers” theme for this year’s event. The theme will be represented in the finished pieces, each will have a narrative element. The theme will also be displayed by the story component of each artist’s creative process on the path to create the finished piece. Because this is a public art event that story can be witnessed firsthand as it is being “written.”
The NISS organizers invite the public to visit throughout the three-week event to witness the creative processes and the work involved. The event begins with rough slabs of marble recently delivered from a Vermont quarry and will end with three more pieces of world-class art for the Gate City.
The sculptors begin carving on Monday the 13th through Thursday, May 30th. The public is invited to watch them at work in front of the Picker Artists Building at 3 Pine Street in the Millyard District of downtown, Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
To show your appreciation and support for this event, the NISS, and the collection of public art they have produced for the city of Nashua please go to their website to learn about volunteer opportunities and ways you can donate.
DAN SPLAINE – Photographer/Contributor
Nashua native Dan Splaine is a commercial photographer who creates images for businesses. A strong belief in the value of local independent journalism, his Nashua roots, and his extensive background in photojournalism make contributing to the NASHUA INK LINK a natural choice.
After working in dozens of countries and throughout the US on assignments Dan will happily go local and turn his lens to capture lives and living in the Gate City. You can see his work and learn about his photography services and workshops by going to his website.