Statue to Honor Late Mayor, Volunteers in Vienna

Reprinted with permission, from the January edition of the Vienna Voice, published by the Town of Vienna.

VIENNA, VA -- If late Mayor M. Jane Seeman were still here, she’d be excited about the public art piece for which Town Council approved a down payment at its December 5 meeting. The former mayor, who passed away in February 2014, would be thrilled that something that will enhance and bring together the Vienna community is one step closer to becoming reality, says her daughter, Councilmember Linda Colbert.

But had she learned that the bronze sculpture was to be installed, in part, in her honor, her daughter says that Seeman would have said something like: “What? For me? What?! Oh gosh, they shouldn’t do that for me.” “Taking Flight,” a bronze sculpture of two children reading and playing atop a stack of five books, is to be installed, hopefully over the coming year, as the Vienna Public Art Commission’s inaugural project. The statue, created by Texas artists Seth and Missy Vandable, was selected to honor the late mayor and all Vienna community volunteers.

“By recognizing Jane Seeman,” says Public Arts Commission member Tara Ruszkowski, “we’re recognizing the importance of all of those who live, work, and give to the community. We’re really excited to have this piece underway because public art energizes a community by humanizing and invigorating its public
spaces.”

When people see the “Taking Flight” statue, Colbert says she has no doubt that it will remind those who knew her of her mother, who not only served as Town mayor for 14 years (and on Council four years before that), but also taught pre-school, volunteered more than 3,000 hours with the Patrick Henry Library (always on Tuesday evenings), served her community through several schools and other organizations, and was known to her grandchildren’s friends as “Grammy Mayor.”

“Just the other day,” Colbert says, “someone was telling me how great [my mother] was with kids.... And reading was something that was very important to her. She thought people should always be learning and reading.”

Colbert adds that her mother would be delighted to be honored by a piece of public art. “Anything that will make people in Vienna happy.... She loved seeing people out and about and gathering. She loved to see the community gathering, and a piece of art does that – it attracts people to it.”

At its December 5 meeting, Town Council voted to approve a 10% down payment of $3,900 for the approximately 7-foot sculpture, as recommended by the Vienna Public Art Commission in order to lock into the current $39,000 price. The total cost of the artwork, along with an approximately 3-foot stained concrete
base, is $47,000.

The public art commission, which was formed about 18 months ago, grew out of the Mayor M. Jane Seeman Memorial Committee, which was established in March 2014. Currently the commission has about $17,000 for the sculpture, donated by individuals, businesses, and civic organizations who, shortly following her death, wished to honor Seeman.

The art commission and other groups anticipate raising the additional $30,000 over the next several months. Donations are being accepted online at viennava.gov. In addition, a group of interested citizens is organizing a February 9 “Become a mover and shaker” fundraiser at Jammin’ Java.

“We feel that this statue not only represents Mayor Seeman’s values,” says Public Arts Commission Chair Midge Biles, “it also re ects the identity of our Town, its education, imagination, and community – along with a splash of playfulness.”

The artwork will not be installed until all funds have been raised. While the public art commission has recommended that the statue be installed at the Town Green, Council has requested that the Board of
Architectural Review work with the commission to consider this and other possible public locations.

PHOTO: Screen shot of rendering of commissioned statue honoring the late Mayor M. Jane Seeman; photo courtesy of Town of Vienna