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Renowned local sculptor, Gregory Curci, was selected by Boston Parks and Recreation
to design a sculpture for Chandler Pond/Gallagher Park. This is part of the ParkARTS
program to celebrate twelve beautiful parks in Boston. Each park has its own artist, who
was selected through a juried competition. Each artist is charged with creating a kinetic
sculpture for his/her designated park. The art work will be installed at each respective
park in October 2001 and will remain there until all twelve pieces are moved to the Boston
Common as part of First Night celebrations. The exhibit will close at the end of January 2002.
Works of Art
We are fortunate that Chandler Pond/Gallagher Park will be the temporary home of Mr. Curci's work.
A small sampling of this earlier exhibits include John Fitzgerald Kennedy Memorial Library
Pavilion, Brockton Fuller Art Museum, Fitchburg Art Museum, the Shidoni gallery in Santa
Fe New Mexico. He has done commissioned work for numerous clients throughout the world,
including Harvard University (to restore a sculpture by Alexander Calder), Boston Museum of
Science, National Inventors Hall of Fame in Ohio, Taiwan National Museum of Science and
Technology.
Certain themes permeate Mr. Curci's work. Using both abstraction and realism, he likes to
incorporate elements that emulate nature's beauty and include a sense of humor. One of his
solar-powered 20-foot flowers graces Porter Square. A giant water lilly floated
in an exhibit in California. Perceptions of time are also prevalent in some of his pieces.
He is currently working on a solar powered clock/gateway for the Greenfield Energy park.
Chandler's Grapes
When asked about his up-coming sculpture for Chandler Pond, he reminded me that Mr. Chandler grew
grapes as a hobby. So, grape-colored glass marbles will be part of his planned ball-drop time machine.
As with many of his works of art, we can count on having some hands-on involvement. The piece will have
both solar and manual power and will include sound. He admires the work of George Rhodes. Most air
travelers among us are probably familiar with, and have been mesmerized by Rhodes' huge glass-encased
kinetic sculpture at Logan airport. Maybe we will see some Rhodes-like movement in Mr. Curci's new
creation for Chandler Pond. You will get the opportunity to meet Gregory Curci next October and talk
with him about his work.
Working Big
Mr. Curci likes to work BIG. So he needs a large workspace. He found just the thing in Winthrop.
A building that was erected by the telephone company and formerly owned by the Knights of Columbus
now belongs to the Curci family. It provides ample workspace and family living quarters. his son
learned to ride his bike in the living room!
Through its inclusion in the ParkARTS program, Chandler Pond will continue to be part of Boston's public
arts scene. Last fall, ParkARTS sponsored a watercolor lesson by two professional artists. Anyone could
participate and all materials were provided. Touring musical concerts will be scheduled in the future.
The next issue of THE HERON will provide details of one that is planned for September.
We can thank Mayor Thomas Menino, Commissioner of Park and Recreation Justice Luff and ParkArts Director
Alda Marshall for bringing this artistic project to fruition.
Photo from last year's Music Festival:
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© Copyright 2001 Chandler Pond Preservation Society. All rights reserved.
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