"Connecting the Dots in Downtown Brooklyn" Post

If the public sculptures we visited were pins on a digital map a lot more people will gravitate towards them. This is because not many people know about the art that surrounds them. So, putting them on the map grabs more attention. The idea/theme that I can use to connect the sculptures that we saw is community. One thing they all have in common is bringing people together for more dissuasion with the appreciation for the art. For example the Beecher statues brought people together to go against it (will talk more about this later) while the B.I.G and Hank Willis Thomas statue brought in more of a positive audience. The two sculptures that we visited that interested me the most are Henry Ward Beecher sculpture by John Quincy Adams, erected 1891 and Henry Ward Beecher sculpture, by Gutzon Borglum, installed 1914. Those statues tell when juxtaposed on a map bring out a story involving history. The second sculpture (1914) is located in the Plymouth Church. This was Henry Ward Beecher stepping grounds and the other one is located in Columbus Park (1891). Being placed in the park represents how he used to preach about Abolishing slavery. The questions these statues raise are "Should they be even outside for the public to view?", "Does this really represent the abolitionist movement?", etc. These questions were raised due to the fact Henry is on top and the placement of the sisters and orphan children below him. What they can tell us about Brooklyn together that they can't say as well alone is that art is more than just the paintings/murals you see walking down the street. These "random" sculptures you pass by everyday without knowing have so much story telling to them. Proves that Brooklyn has history and will show us this history of Brooklyn through art as well.