By Paige Miglio
The Arts Scene
Paige Miglio
After being stowed in hibernation for nearly two years, five creatives are finally unveiling their public artworks for the greater Milford community to see, touch and enjoy this month. What started as an application in 2019 for a Department of Economic and Community Development arts and tourism project grant was really a hope to illustrate the impact a “percent for art” program could bring to our town and start the conversation.
The grant, titled “Meet Me at the Bench,” was a simple enough idea. The park bench has long been a placemaking tool for communities to provide a space for visitors, families, coworkers and strangers to meet, rest, linger and spend time enjoying the view, a cup of coffee, an ice-cream and fresh air. With every passing year, our lives have become more over-scheduled, siloed and insular – way before COVID arrived. Taking the time to sit on a park bench, or one’s front stoop talking with neighbors is a lost art.
Before COVID, the focus of the project was for the bench to become the neighborhood stoop in a downtown that was witnessing multiple developments that were bringing forward concerns of losing the small-town charm that many had stopped noticing as their days got busier and busier. This project was not for decorated or painted benches, nor an art trail for viewing from a bench. These were to be experiences to bring people together.
As an arts council, we love asking “what is art” and “who is an artist.” The answer for me is everything and everyone. If you love what you do and do it with passion, you are an artist. Your trade is your art.
This project embraced the tradespeople, craftspeople, architects, metalworkers, woodworkers, designers and engineers as artists. Because they are. Their challenge was to recreate the park bench as a community and arts experience that built community through conversation in the moment.
Our application to the state was accepted and we were awarded $12,000 with a required business match of at least $7,500 and in-kind assistance from the city for site approval and installation. We had eight applicants and selected five projects. Everything was looking good.
And then COVID hit.
When we came out of the original shutdown during the spring of 2020, the committee felt strongly that the project should move forward. We also knew we had an obligation to five creatives who were dependent on those fees during a time of extreme uncertainty. To be totally honest, it now felt imperative to see this project come to light. Its purpose was tangible; we could taste it.
The creatives took on the project. Then came the endless delays and scheduling issues that came with the pandemic never really releasing its grip on our lives. Finally. they are having their moment. We celebrate this project with them.
The projects are by Sonny Cardinali, “Sitting in the Shade” on the Green across from People’s Bank; Gerard Kelleher and Mary Lou O’Connor, “Replicant” in front of the Milford Historical Society; Io Escu and Rich Bourque, “Community Blocks” at Lisman Landing; Bob Gregson, “Face to Face” behind the Milford Library; and Erich J. Davies, “Why Am I Here?” along Founders Walk.
Artist Sonny Cardinali and Paige Miglio on the art bench, “Sitting in the Shade.” Photo courtesy of Paige Miglio.
A huge thank you goes to the state DECD, the city of Milford and Public Works, TrinityPoint Wealth, Wines & More, Subway, the CT Post Mall, Milford Boat Works and the Milford Historical Society for supporting and sponsoring this project. It truly takes a village.
So, about that village. Why is public art important to our communities? Why should a municipality consider a “percent for art” program? Public art is a widely accepted element of community and economic development and civic design. It not only provides a destination for residents and visitors; public art boosts local economies by creating a destination for all, enjoyed by all. Public art is accessible 24/7 by its nature, and it serves to grow community pride and enhances workplaces by improving morale, productivity and quality of life.
If municipalities approved a project for, say, $20 million, a one percent for art would create a bank of $200,000 – only $1.81 per household over a 30-year loan period. That would fund numerous projects across the community. These types of programs can also be a partnership between municipalities and developers, sharing the investment for the sake of community development.
By using the Meet Me at the Bench project as a much smaller example, if a community spends $1,500 to $2,000 per park bench, with a business match you could offer creatives $3,000 to $4,000 per project and build an art trail that not only beautified your community but created interactive engagement with viable spaces for convening and hosting small events.
This is not a new idea. This is not a far-fetched idea. This should not be an idea, but an action. Art is a movement.
Replicant by Mary Lou O’Connor and Gerard Kelleher. Photo courtesy of Paige Miglio.
Community Blocks by Io Escu and Rich Bourque. Photo courtesy of Paige Miglio.
Paige Miglio is the executive director of the Milford Arts Council, celebrating 50 years of service in 2022 supporting and presenting all genres of art to the greater Milford community. Visit milfordarts.org for information on the MAC, and send her your events in the arts (include dates and details) to executivedirector@milfordarts.org.