Boston Women's Memorial

Boston Women's Memorial
Artist Meredith Bergmann
Year 2003 (2003)
Type bronze and granite
Location Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
Coordinates 42°21′02″N 71°05′00″W / 42.35052°N 71.08329°W / 42.35052; -71.08329Coordinates: 42°21′02″N 71°05′00″W / 42.35052°N 71.08329°W / 42.35052; -71.08329

The Boston Women's Memorial is a trio of sculptures on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall in Boston, Massachusetts, commemorating the lives of Phillis Wheatley, Abigail Adams, and Lucy Stone.

Overview

The idea of a memorial to women was first discussed in 1992 in recognition of the under-representation of women among Boston's statues.[1] A collaboration between the Boston Women's Commission, the Commonwealth Avenue Mall Committee and the Massachusetts Historical Society,[2] supported by Angela Menino, the wife of the city's mayor, developed the memorial over the next twelve years.[3][4]

The design competition was won by New York sculptor Meredith Bergmann. The memorial was unveiled on October 25, 2003, by the mayor of Boston, Thomas Menino.[2][5]

The statues present the women at street level, rather than on a plinth, although plinths are used as part of the artwork. Stone, for example, is positioned using her plinth as an editorial desk, working on the Woman's Journal, which she founded.[2] Quotations from the women are inscribed on their plinths.

Local people regularly leave items at or on the statues — scarves around the women's necks in winter, a Boston Red Sox cap on Wheatly's head when the team won the World Series in 2004.[2]

The memorial is featured on the Ladies Walk of the Boston Women's Heritage Trail.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Bergmann, Meredith. "The Boston Women's Memorial". American Arts Quarterly, Summer 2005, Volume 22, Number 3. Newington-Cropsey Cultural Studies Center. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Boston Women's Memorial looks back on a decade on Comm Ave". Boston.com. Retrieved 2016-03-26.
  3. ↑ "Boston Women's Memorial » Public Art Boston". www.publicartboston.com. Retrieved 2016-03-26.
  4. ↑ "Back Bay West Boston Women's Heritage Trail". bwht.org. Retrieved 2016-03-26.
  5. ↑ "Boston's Women Memorial City of Boston". www.cityofboston.gov. Retrieved 2016-03-26.
  6. ↑ "Ladies Walk Boston Women's Heritage Trail". bwht.org. Retrieved 2016-03-26.
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