Newport Public Art Committee dedication of the “Ambassador Portal” sculpture in Historic Nye Beach in the Don and Ann Davis Park, September 30, 2023.
L to R: Frances VanWert, Erik Glover (staff liaison), Cynthia Jacobi (City Council liaison), Mary Peterson, Chasse Davidson, Anita Albrecht, Catherine Rickbone, Chair, and the artist, Ken McCall.
Not shown: Bill Poster, the photographer, and Scott Knox
Catherine Rickbone, Chair of the Newport Public Art Committee, addresses the audience in the Gazebo in the Don and Ann Davis Park prior to the “Ambassador Portal” dedication.
WELCOME – I speak on behalf of the Newport Public Art Committee and its 7 members – some of us are artists, some not, but we all have a passion for public art and the benefits it can have in a community for its citizens and visitors.
One of our main activities is writing and sending out RFPs (Requests for Proposals.) I considered this project a Request for “Possibilities.”
We deliberated several months about what to say in the RFP so the world would know we wanted (not a replica to replace Sam Briseno’s “Ambassador”) – but something to succeed it. To be an heir to the “Ambassador.”
We didn’t take our task lightly because of public sentiment for the “A.”
Eventually we read and deliberated on 19 applications from 8 states. In a silent, private voting we all, separately, gave Ken McCall’s “Ambassador Portal” application high scores.
Then came all the interviews. Once again, Ken exceeded our expectations for understanding what we wanted, why we wanted it, how we dreamed to make it possible – to be an heir to the “Ambassador.”
Nothing, ever replaces the original. And, it’s not supposed to.
But what stands here in front of us is just as striking, beautiful, meaningful, in its own right, as its predecessor.
Thank you, Ken, for responding to our RFP – Request for Possibilities, and creating your “Ambassador’s Portal.”
Congratulations. And thank you.
Click here to go to Oregon ArtsWatch article by Lori Tobias
News-Times article by Leslie O’Donnell
