Run-Down UWS Monument Gets New Shine Through City Art Program

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — Upper West Siders celebrated a victory last month with the unveiling of the newly renovated Joan of Arc memorial statue, the first non-fictional depiction of a woman in a New York City public park.

The restoration of the monument, made possible by the Municipal Art Society of New York's (MAS) Adopt-Monument/Mural Program and the Joan of Arc Committee, marks the statue's first full restoration since its dedication in 1915.

The Joan of Arc Monument, located near Riverside Drive and W. 93rd St., honors Jeanne La Pucelle, the woman who commanded France's army in major victories against England during the Hundred Years War. She was eventually canonized as a saint by Pope Benedict XV.

The statue has various historical and unique elements, such as the foundation made of stone from Rouen, France, where Joan of Arc was imprisoned.

For many years, it was a popular destination for dignitaries, visitors, and followers of faith until it fell into disrepair in 1960.

A team of skilled stone conservators were assigned to work on the pedestal of the monument, specifically cleaning out old mortar from large open and failing joints, removing debris, injecting grout and installing mortar.

Conservator Steve Tatti was placed in charge of restoring the statue's artwork using a method that included pressure cleaning, heating the bronze to remove moisture, applying wax to rectify discolorations, repainting and graffiti removal.

“The opportunity to preserve the base came last year when MAS contacted the Joan of Arc Statue Committee Chair, Randy Hugill, who generously and enthusiastically secured $18,000 toward this restoration. The MAS provided the balance of $4,800 for the total of $22,800,” said Elizabeth Goldstein, president of the MAS.

Members of the Joan of Arc Statue Committee, Upper West Side City Council Member Gale Brewer, Damien Laban, Acting Consul General of France in New York, among other community members all attended the May 18 event.

The event also featured musical performances by Broadway star Norm Lewis and the PS 84 Student Choir and a performance by the Hudson Classical Theater Company.

"I’ve been so lucky to helm this incredible committee and to see its hard work come to fruition," said Randy Hugill, Chair of the Joan of Arc Statue Committee. "This also would not have been possible without the Municipal Art Society and Riverside Park Conservancy lending their support."

In the course of MAS's more than 130-year history, the organization has helped to establish a number of important civic organizations, including the Public Art Fund, the New York Landmarks Conservancy, the Park Avenue Armory Conservancy and the Waterfront Alliance.

MAS launched the Adopt-A-Monument and Adopt-A-Mural programs in 1987 and 1991, respectively, in response to the declining condition of several public murals in hospitals, schools, and libraries in New York City, as well as the scarcity of resources for their preservation.

The inception of both projects began with appeals to corporate and private benefactors to help save the city's most disregarded public sculptures and endangered murals. Currently, 53 public art installations across all five boroughs are protected by the programs.