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Public commenters ask CAH for help preserving Murrow Memorial Park artwork and defend online arts funding
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Summary
Public commenters urged the Commission to help maintain a Murrow Memorial Park lighting artwork threatened with removal and asked CAH to recognize 'telematic' or online arts practice as DC‑relevant when deciding grants.
Several public commenters addressed the commission at its Feb. 23 meeting, raising two recurring themes: a request for assistance to repair and preserve a public artwork at Murrow Memorial Park, and a defense of online or telematic arts practice as DC‑relevant for grant eligibility.
A long‑time District resident who said he won a competition to install a memorial artwork at Murrow Memorial Park described the installation as a digital 'eternal flame' activated by recorded voices and reported 32 burned‑out bulbs, inability to access the electrical cabinet, and problems updating the controlling computer’s firmware. He said the Golden Triangle Business Improvement District had sent a letter threatening to remove the artwork on or about April 14 and asked the commission for support and for funding of a proposed $8,975 repair plan to restore the lights within 20 days.
A commissioner asked whether the speaker had written evidence from the Golden Triangle; the commenter said he had transmitted a letter to a staffer named David Hernandez (later clarified in the transcript), and staff acknowledged receipt and said they would follow up.
Randall Packard, artistic director of Zachary Center Arts, also spoke during public comment to defend digital and online arts practice. Packard said that although his organization's work is telematic and reaches national and international audiences, its studios, collaborations and programming are rooted in DC. He argued the Commission should consider telematic practice as place‑based and DC‑serving rather than 'placeless' when adjudicating capital and fellowship awards. Packard said he and the organization have been denied capital project funding and an artist fellowship in recent cycles for that reason and requested more transparent debriefing from grants staff; staff pledged to follow up with Packard.
Commission staff acknowledged both requests and indicated they would follow up with the Murrow project commenter about the Golden Triangle correspondence and with Packard about his fellowship debrief.
