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Presentation Type
Presentation
Full Name of Faculty Mentor
Elizabeth Baltes, Visual Arts
Major
Art Studio
Presentation Abstract
Portrait monuments are often displayed in prominent, public spaces so they can be viewed easily. Larger-than-life bronze figures tower atop marble pedestals as symbols of virtue to the general public. While most are undoubtedly familiar with this motif, much information about these statues is not made readily available- who decides which figures are honored in this very public, very expensive, way? This research explores these unknowns as an extension of work done for the Edwards Center for Inclusive Excellence, by examining monuments on the South Carolina State House grounds. Although the monuments found at the seat of the state's democracy are usually described as "public monuments," many are funded, at least in part, by private donations. A monument of Strom Thurmond, for example, received funding from Bank of America, Bellsouth, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield, among other private donors, in an amount totaling $850,000. Such large sums of money are not donated without cause. By examining primary sources and historical documents, along with the monuments themselves, I seek to unveil these motives, in order to better understand how private funding has shaped this public space. Using money to determine motivation, this project elucidates the private decisions that affect the public these grounds are meant to serve.
Location
Room 1 (BRTH 101)
Start Date
12-4-2022 3:20 PM
End Date
12-4-2022 3:40 PM
Disciplines
Classical Archaeology and Art History
Recommended Citation
Ludwig, Frances, "Private Funding, Public Space" (2022). Undergraduate Research Competition. 44.
https://digitalcommons.coastal.edu/ugrc/2022/fullconference/44
Private Funding, Public Space
Room 1 (BRTH 101)
Portrait monuments are often displayed in prominent, public spaces so they can be viewed easily. Larger-than-life bronze figures tower atop marble pedestals as symbols of virtue to the general public. While most are undoubtedly familiar with this motif, much information about these statues is not made readily available- who decides which figures are honored in this very public, very expensive, way? This research explores these unknowns as an extension of work done for the Edwards Center for Inclusive Excellence, by examining monuments on the South Carolina State House grounds. Although the monuments found at the seat of the state's democracy are usually described as "public monuments," many are funded, at least in part, by private donations. A monument of Strom Thurmond, for example, received funding from Bank of America, Bellsouth, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield, among other private donors, in an amount totaling $850,000. Such large sums of money are not donated without cause. By examining primary sources and historical documents, along with the monuments themselves, I seek to unveil these motives, in order to better understand how private funding has shaped this public space. Using money to determine motivation, this project elucidates the private decisions that affect the public these grounds are meant to serve.