News Media
City of Annapolis Press Release
May 15, 2007
Unveiling of First ARTWALK piece by Sy Mohr on Friday, May 18th
On Friday, May 18th, Mayor Ellen Moyer, the Art In Public Places Commission and the Artwalk group will unveil the first in a series of large scale public art that will be exhibited in the City of Annapolis for three years as part of the Charter 300 celebration. Each piece will speak to milestones in the City’s history. The debut of this first piece will be at 1:00 PM at the Harbormaster’s building at the City Dock.
Sy Mohr’s Annapolis City Dock Harbormaster Collage depicts the landscape that welcomes citizens and visitors to City Dock and the historical City of Annapolis. His work takes us on a trip through time, combining elements of the past and present with the eclectic mix of people and their streetscapes. Sy Mohr (1923 - ) is a contemporary American oil painter best known for large canvas paintings that represent American truth, democracy, and ideologies at their best through his depictions of people, places, cultures, countries, and everyday life. Mr. Mohr was born the Bronx, N.Y., has traveled the world, lived among the Amish in Lancaster, PA, and now calls Maryland his home. Maryland according to the late Lou Goldstein calls Sy Mohr, “the painter of Maryland”. For more information, check out www.symohrgallery.net
The actual installation will be done on Thursday, May 17th by Corning Construction. John Menocal, President of Corning Construction, has also done installations for the National Gallery. Production and fabrication of this piece was by Art at Large, Inc. and Sally Wern Comport was the collage artist for Mr. Mohr.
Artwalk is a unique and successful coalition of public and private funding. In August, 2006, Artwalk was awarded $70,000 by the Art in Public Places Commission. This grant represents slightly less than half of the projected final cost of this ambitious and eye-catching project. Private sponsors are playing the crucial role in the remaining funding.
This artwork is one of thirteen different pieces that will go up at six locations throughout the city. Other artists include Marion Warren, George “Lassie” Belt (in conjunction with children from the Stanton Center), Greg Harlin and Sally Wern Comport (who is also the Artistic Director for the entire project). The pieces are “site-specific” in content and design and deliberately not located in one particular section of the city. Site locations include Sean Donlon parking alcove (West St.), Severn Bank building (Westgate Circle), Arundel Center (Calvert St.); Newman Park (Compromise St.) and USNA wall (Craig Street). As viewers move from one location to the next, they will have an opportunity to view the outstanding architecture and ambiance of the Historic District between the exhibit sites.
The next installation is scheduled for late June at the pedestrian entrance to the Naval Academy at the Craig Street Gate. Further information available by calling Artwalk at 410.268.2701.
