Cape Spirit should be in Canalfront Park

I am a member of Lewes in Bloom, but I am writing this as a concerned citizen. I did not attend the debacle of the public art committee meeting April 27, but I did watch the video. Not being involved directly in Art in Bloom, I am not privy to all the details. However, my perception is that at least one committee member was prejudicial against this project from the beginning.

As the application for the Cape Spirit sculpture was read, there were numerous questions that were raised not about the art itself, but engineering, environmental and funding concerns. However, at no time was Art in Bloom allowed to discuss its position. What struck me the most was that the committee chair kept saying they had the application for six weeks and that they reached out to Art in Bloom with no response. I have since learned the application was submitted April 11. Still, I am curious as to what Diver meant when he said he reached out. When it was suggested by someone in the audience that the two groups should meet to discuss the concerns, Diver thought it was a brilliant suggestion and should be done. This tells me his action of reaching out was perhaps nothing more than “We received your submission.”

Art in Bloom was working on a very tight schedule to meet a timeline for applying to the Delaware Division of the Arts for a grant. The very least the committee could have done was approve the application with contingencies, so the grant process could move forward. It was not to be. After bullying one committee member into changing their motion to approve with contingency, it was voted down.

I admit I am an ardent fan of Cape Spirit, and I am completely in favor of it being placed in Canalfront Park – maybe not in the spot referenced in the application – but it belongs by the water. The spirit of Lewes is the downtown. I can imagine sitting on a bench in the park, watching children play, hearing the sound of balls bouncing on the courts, noting the cheers from the baseball field, taking in the Overfalls, and watching the boats both commercial and pleasure moving along the canal. Or perhaps the people dining at the various restaurants on the other side of the canal would see the activities in the park and appreciate Cape Spirit lifting its arms in joy. 

This art captures the spirit that drew all of us here. Some, if approved, would want to put this sculpture in a park in the Great Marsh. While it would be a symbol of joy at Canalfront Park, I am concerned the raised arms in the Great Marsh “park” would signify, “Help, I am sinking. Get me out of here!”