HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-06-02-MMC-minMonuments & Memorials Committee
Meeting Minutes
Thursday, June 2, 2022
Conducted by Remote Participation*
7:00 PM
Members Present
Linda Dixon, Chair; Avram Baskin, Glen Bassett, Bebe Fallick, Chuck French,
George Gamota, Leslie Masson, Danjun Pu
Members Not Present
Charles Price
Guests
Doug Lucente, Vice Chair, Select Board
Matthew Siegal, Executive Director, LexArt
Cristina Burwell, Executive Director, Munroe Center for the Arts
Jeff Howry, Chair, Stone Building Feasibility Reuse Committee
Jessie Steigerwald, Michelle Tran, Dawn McKenna
Business
Linda convened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. and read the Town notice regarding the
conduct of public virtual meetings.
Upon motion moved and seconded, the Minutes of April 7, 2022, were approved
by roll call vote, 4 in favor, 2 abstaining.
Upon motion moved and seconded, the Minutes of May 5, 2022, were approved by
roll call vote.
“What Makes A Good Monument?”
Presentation by Matthew Siegal, Executive Director, LexArt
Linda introduced Matthew and his history at the Museum of Fine Arts in Conservation
and Collections Management. Matthew mentioned Kathy Jacobs, historian and former
member of the Monuments and Memorials Committee, and her expertise in statues and
historical memory. He stated that monuments should pay homage to ideals while looking
forward and being relevant.
Matthew compared Greek idealism with Roman realism and spoke of Daniel Chester
French. Comparing the Concord Minute Man as a reluctant hero with his plough and rifle
with the Lexington Minute Man as an idealistic sentry, he stated that both are successful
because they represent the idealistic lone hero.
He showed slides of various monuments: O’Reilly double-sided memorial to the
assimilation of Irish Catholics into Boston; the Maya Lin memorial in Washington, D.C.;
the Pennsylvania War Memorial by Walker Hancock; the Spirit of Giving in the Boston
Public Gardens; and statuary in the Forest Hills Cemetery. He felt that suffering should
not be shown realistically. He cited the various aspects of monuments which he feels are
more successful and less successful, and he commented on the influences of donors, the
sites selected, and the committee or governing authority. Here in Lexington, a monument
should be consistent with liberty, freedom, and inspirational values.
Final Report of the Vision for the Stone Building
Jeff Howry, Chair, Stone Building Feasibility Reuse Committee.
This report was presented for information as the M&M Committee does not have
jurisdiction over the Stone Building. Mr. Howry gave an extensive slide presentation
outlining the history of the building, its historic importance, restrictions set by Ellen
Stone, and the need for complete restoration of the interior. He showed the current plan
and stated that possible suggested uses are posted on the Ellen Stone website. There is a
potential legal control issue regarding Town and Cary Library Trustees. The Committee
thanked Mr. Howry and his Committee for their work and commitment to the project.
Progress Report on CEL Grant Application
The CEL has granted $3000 toward the Database Project. There will be a presentation of
the check at a ceremony later this month.
The Database Project is proceeding via a member meeting with the Town IT team. They
are working now on the known and beginning on the unknown.
Policies and Procedures Manual
Work is ongoing and awaits input from various relevant Town groups. A draft will be
sent to the whole M&M Committee, hopefully in time for the September meeting.
The next meeting of this Committee will be Thursday, September 8, 2022, due to the
Labor Day Holiday. The Committee will then return to its regular schedule.
The meeting adjourned by roll call vote at 9:06 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bebe Fallick, Secretary