ART BOARDS TO RETURN IN SWANTON THIS SUMMER
The Swanton Public Art Network (SPAN) announced to the public this week that the art boards will be returning to Swanton for artist use and community enjoyment. On March 8, 2021, the Swanton Village Trustees unanimously voted to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Arts Network which includes agreement to established guidelines for the reinstallation and administration of public art boards on Village-owned property. SPAN is now eagerly working toward a launch of new art boards by mid-to-late spring. SPAN will continue to keep the public informed as it works out the details and logistics for the “Return of the Art Boards” in the Swanton community.
SPAN formed in response to the art walls being dismantled in July 2020. This was the result of socially intolerant behavior and public reactivity surrounding artwork portraying diversity. Many artists, community members, and Village officials were hurt, angry, frustrated, discouraged, and felt misunderstood and not heard. So as a small group of volunteers, Michelle Nordberg, Janet Dimick Soavi, Joanne Reiter, Priscilla and George Connelly, united through a passionate desire for community healing and social tolerance. This volunteer group envisions that these goals can be achieved through a variety of public art mediums, starting with the return of the artboards. To that end, SPAN worked with Village officials Adam Paxman, Reggie Beliveau and Police Chief Stell in the development of the artboard program and to reach a mutual agreement of how the artboards can be reinstalled, administered, and protected. SPAN is currently in the process to establish a similar arrangement with the Swanton Town Selectboard for public artboards on Town-owned property, meeting again on March 16, 2021.
SPAN publicly honors local artist and creator Scott Rheaume who initiated, constructed, and gifted the original Public Art Boards to Swanton. For five rewarding years, these open artboards were a successful and cherished benefit to Swanton that operated organically without social unrest. SPAN’s hope is that public art, starting with the artboards, will help the community members heal and work together in a unified way. While we will have differences, it is vital that we each make effort to understand, allow, and even appreciate art that is not only familiar and traditional but also varied and diverse. SPAN intends to be an active and resourceful team that will continue to promote a variety of public art throughout the Swanton community.
