Senate Art Committee asks finalists for maquettes, historian input in Freeman and Adams bust selection

Chair Julian Cyr opened the public working session of the Senate Art Committee to review the top four artist proposals for busts of Elizabeth Freeman and Abigail Adams and to decide which artists, if any, should be invited to submit second-round materials. "Today's public working session is our opportunity to review the top 4 artist proposals, both for Elizabeth Freeman and for Abigail Adams," Cyr said.

Committee members discussed individual proposals in detail, focusing on likeness, expression, and materials. Staff read consolidated feedback for each finalist. On Freeman, the committee praised several submissions for emotional impact but repeatedly flagged concerns about whether some renderings relied on computer generation or borrowed closely from an existing monument in Sheffield, Mass. Senator Susan Cross said the Serena Bates rendering "is like an exact copy of the Sheffield Monument," prompting members to request closer provenance checks.

Members signaled a consistent set of edits they would ask artists to consider if invited to a second round: soften or remove exaggerated bonnet treatments, present Freeman at an age tied to her legal victory (roughly mid-30s), and emphasize a resolute, outward gaze rather than a forlorn or angry expression. Several members recommended bronze as the primary material while acknowledging some artists proposed or prefer marble; the committee asked staff to clarify acceptable materials in follow-up guidance.

On a process question, members debated whether to narrow the field now or ask all semifinalists to produce clay maquettes. Senator Edwards urged keeping Bates in the running and asking for a maquette rather than eliminating her, saying he found value in the proposal's vision. Other members worried about differing media across submissions and recommended standardizing the medium for fair comparison.

The committee directed staff to take three follow-up steps before the next substantive review: consult a costume historian to advise about period clothing and bonnet appropriateness, attempt genealogical or descendant outreach for Elizabeth Freeman where feasible, and ask shortlisted artists to prepare clay maquettes (a funded next step) reflecting the committee's consolidated guidance. Chair Cyr said staff would notify finalists and that the committee will reconvene on January 26 to review maquettes and approve minutes.

The session ended with procedural reminders and thanks to Senate counsel and business office staff. "We're gonna meet again on January 26," Cyr said, and staff confirmed there is money in the budget to pay for the next-step clay sketches.