Portsmouth NH 400 selects first artist for Sculpture Garden Legacy project

Special to Seacoastonline
·2 min read
Rendering of the Bohenko Gateway Park Sculpture Garden, a Portsmouth NH 400 Legacy project.
Rendering of the Bohenko Gateway Park Sculpture Garden, a Portsmouth NH 400 Legacy project.

PORTSMOUTH — For the past year, the Portsmouth NH 400 (PNH400) Legacy Project subcommittee has worked to create a maritime-themed sculpture garden in Bohenko Gateway Park adjacent to the Piscataqua River.

At an unveiling on March 2 at Rio Tequila Cantina (37 Bow St.) in Portsmouth, PNH400 announced the selection of artist Sijia Chen to create the first piece of public art to be installed in the park in the fall of 2023.

The artist, who grew up in the small coastal city of Shantou, China, which reminds her of Portsmouth, was inspired by the Piscataqua gundalow when creating her concept. When installed, the 20-foot stainless steel sculpture will be prominently visible along the Market Street gateway to the city where Bohenko Park is located. She plans to meet with community groups to develop themes connected to Portsmouth’s maritime history that will be incorporated into her papercut design.

Chen is a multi-disciplinary visual artist who has created permanent public art projects in China and in locations across the United States, including Claremont, California, and North Kansas City, Missouri.

Conceptual design by artist Sijia Chen. The Portsmouth NH 400 Sculpture Garden Review Team was unanimous in their choice of Sijia Chen’s design, “Endeavor.”
Conceptual design by artist Sijia Chen. The Portsmouth NH 400 Sculpture Garden Review Team was unanimous in their choice of Sijia Chen’s design, “Endeavor.”

More than 30 artists submitted more than 40 proposed designs for the project. A review team, including representatives from thecity and the community as well as others with expertise in public art, were charged with the task of selecting a design. The team was unanimous in choosing Chen’s design, “Endeavor.”

Members of the Legacy Task Force include: Ernie (Ernestine) Greenslade, chair; Nancy London, Barbara Massar, Judy Miller. The Sculpture Review Team members included Massar, Elizabeth Farish, Lennie Mullaney, Nancy Carmer, Tom Watson and Leah Woods.

PNH400 has raised nearly $100,000 to cover the design, fabrication, transportation, documentation and installation expenses. Additional sponsors are needed to complete this component and future additions to the PNH400 Legacy Project sculpture garden, which can accommodate six to eight pieces of public art.

Bob and Sue Thoresen, leads donors for the PNH400 sculpture garden.
Bob and Sue Thoresen, leads donors for the PNH400 sculpture garden.

Donors to the project include Sue and Bob Thoresen, Chris Dwyer, The Kane Company, The Dana and Shaula Levenson Family, Stephen and Karin Barndollar, Jack and Pam Blalock, John Bohenko and Nancy London, GL Rogers & Company, Inc., Greenslade Family, Judy Miller and Arthur Carakatsane, CMA Engineers, Inc., The Clayburgh Family, Bow Street Commercial Real Estate, Ballentyne Medical Aesthetics, Great Island Realty, Donald and Beth Margeson, Seacoast Apart-Hotels, Sundial Cocktails, John and Zoi Diamond.

To learn more about this project, including how to donate, email sculpture@portsmouthnh400.org or visit the Portsmouth NH 400 website.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Portsmouth NH 400 selects artist for Sculpture Garden Legacy project