City, artists seek input on permanent Harriet Tubman statue

As the City of Philadelphia prepares for the creation of a permanent Harriet Tubman statue on the grounds of City Hall, local residents now have a chance to voice their opinion on the first statue of a Black female historical figure in the city’s public art collection.

The Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy (OACCE) will host the first public meeting with five semi-finalist artists competing to create Philadelphia’s Harriet Tubman statue on Monday, April 24, at 5:30 p.m.

The virtual public meeting will be an opportunity for the semifinalists—Vinnie Bagwell, Richard Blake, Tanda Francis, Alvin Pettit, and Basil Watson—to hear directly from the public before they create initial design proposals for the project.

“We encourage all Philadelphians to be a part of this historic public art commission for the city by attending this and future public meetings and making their voices heard,” said Kelly Lee, Chief Cultural Officer for the city and Executive Director of OACCE. “Philadelphians are passionate about Harriet Tubman and her contributions, and are empowered by her story, so I am confident that the artists will be inspired by their feedback.”

The five semifinalist artists are:

Vinnie Bagwell 

Vinnie Bagwell is a sculptor who casts in bronze and bronze resin. A native of Yonkers, New York, she is an award-winning artist whose work has been displayed nationwide.

Richard Blake

Richard Blake’s sculpture monuments are on display across the country. An artist and educator, Blake has deep roots in Philadelphia.

Tanda Francis

Tanda Francis is a Brooklyn, New York-based artist with an extensive resume of public art. Her work has been exhibited locally and internationally.

Alvin Pettit

Alvin Pettit, a native of Baltimore, Maryland, has been sculpting and painting for more than 30 years. He has also worked as an educator and currently serves on the executive board of the Jersey City Arts Council.

Basil Watson

Jamaican artist Basil Watson has honed his skills for more than 45 years, completing major commissions for organizations across the world.

The meeting will be held via Zoom and a recording will be available on OACCE’s website for those who are unable to attend. Written feedback can also be shared by filling out this form from Tuesday, April 25 through Friday, April 28.

Register for the virtual public input meeting here.

“Community engagement through public input meetings is integral to our public art process,” said Marguerite Anglin, Public Art Director of OACCE. “It is important that Philadelphians engage in direct discussion with artists throughout each stage of the proposal period to ensure that the city’s public artwork reflects the diversity and values of the community.”

There will be multiple upcoming opportunities for the public to share their ideas and provide feedback on Philadelphia’s permanent Harriet Tubman statue. Those opportunities will be announced at a later date.

Detailed information about the Harriet Tubman statue commissioning process and a full timeline for the project are available online at creativephl.org