Jim.henderson via Wikimedia Commons
On Saturday, May 18 at 2 p.m. (rain date: May 19), a ceremony will be held at the Joan of Arc monument at Riverside Drive and West 93rd Street to celebrate its recently restored pedestal base. This is the statue’s first restoration of the plinth since its reveal in 1915.
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The event, which is free and open to the public, will feature a special visit from the French Consul General, musical performances by Broadway star Norm Lewis and the PS 84 Student Choir, and a performance by the Hudson Classical Theater Company.
“’For the Love of Joan’ is a well-deserved nod to all Upper West Siders who continue supporting the JOA Statue Committee and its efforts to care for our iconic heirloom,” said Randy Hugill, Chair of the Joan of Arc Statue Committee, the volunteer group dedicated to the upkeep of the statue and its 4-block parkland. Our Committee of volunteers raised the funding for this significant restoration work entirely through private donations from the community,” said Randy Hugill, Chair of the Joan of Arc Statue Committee, the volunteer group dedicated to the upkeep of the statue and its 4-block parkland. “I’ve been so lucky to helm this incredible committee and to see its hard work come to fruition. This also would not have been possible without the Municipal Art Society and Riverside Park Conservancy lending their support. It’s really going to be such a special day, with wonderful performances, and I invite everyone to celebrate with us!”
Sculpted by Anna Vaughn Hyatt Huntington, the statue was commissioned by the original Joan of Arc Statue Committee in 1915 as part of the City Beautiful movement that helped transform Riverside Park and as a celebration of Joan of Arc’s 500th birthday. The sculpture was the first New York City Park monument dedicated to a non-fictional woman. Today, the statue continues to be a symbol of the friendship and alliance between the United States and France, as well as a symbol of empowerment for women.
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“It’s been so rewarding to collaborate with the members of the Joan of Arc Statue Committee,” said Merritt Birnbaum, President & CEO of the Riverside Park Conservancy. “The Conservancy is lucky to work with such passionate community members who commit their time and resources to improving the Park. Working side-by-side with dedicated volunteers is not just a joy, but it is also essential to our ability to care for the Park’s unique treasures, such as the Joan of Arc statue. I can’t wait to celebrate its restoration with the community at this special event.”
No mention anywhere of the Municipal Art Society of New York? MAS has been managing the preservation of this monument, and others, through their Adopt-A-Monument Program since the late 1980s! https://www.mas.org/initiatives/adopt-a-monumentmural/
I attended P.S. 93 Manhattan from kindergarten in 1930 through graduation from what was known as Joan of Arc Junior High School – because of the statue on 93rd St – in January 1939. I hope I will be able to attend the ceremony but at 99 it is difficult to get around! Eileen Martinson Lavine.
Please be there, Eileen!! You, more than anyone else, would be the star and the rest of us honored! If you need help, let us know.
I hope my daughter will get me there! I live at 305 West End Assisted Living.
Is this really a responsible thing to do? I heard she was a slave owner.