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Nonprofit plans 'Eternal Flame for Scott Burton' sculpture at NYC AIDS Memorial Park
Summary
The New York City AIDS Memorial announced a year‑long sculpture installation — 'Eternal Flame for Scott Burton' — to be installed at St. Vincent's Triangle this spring; the nonprofit says Parks has reviewed siting and engineering and the work will include interpretive signage and QR codes linking to contextual materials.
Dave Harper, executive director of the New York City AIDS Memorial, told the CB2 Manhattan Parks & Waterfront Committee that his nonprofit will install a year‑long sculpture, "Eternal Flame for Scott Burton," at the New York City AIDS Memorial Park at St. Vincent's Triangle.
Harper said the work, created by Oscar Tuison in collaboration with elements salvaged from late artist Scott Burton, is scheduled to be installed in late May with a public unveiling planned for May 30 and remain on site through about mid‑April 2027. "We hope to open it on May 30th," Harper said. He described the piece as a reconstructed circular seating structure (an "ottoman" in Burton's vocabulary) with a central pole and a low‑wattage LED fixture intended to evoke an 'eternal flame.' Harper said the base footprint is roughly 15 feet square and the pole is about 31 feet tall.
The project follows a prior sculptural installation — "Craig's Closet" — that the memorial installed through Parks' art‑in‑the‑parks program. Harper said Parks has been involved from the start on engineering, insurance and approvals, and that the nonprofit is seeking to adhere to Parks' formal public‑art protocols. "Parks was involved in the decommissioning of the original sculpture... they're very excited that we have found a way to reimagine it and give it new life," Harper said.
Committee members asked detailed questions about the siting and public interpretation. Harper said the installation will be sited on the grassy area adjacent to the memorial plaza and that Parks has designated locations for freestanding signs and offered space on the memorial for larger readable signage. "We'll definitely have a QR code on all signs that lead to our website," Harper said, noting the memorial already offers an online HIV/AIDS timeline and resources for testing and treatment.
Anna Shapiro raised a question about potential effects on bird flight and migration from the LED illumination. Harper replied that the planned LED is low wattage and not expected to be brighter than existing park lighting, and that he would consult the lighting engineer if committee members wanted a formal review. The committee also raised concerns about safety and whether additional seating could encourage after‑hours loitering. Harper said the piece is being engineered for safe public access and that Parks' engineering sign‑offs and the project's insurance requirements are being pursued.
Harper described the project's financial backing as including the Department of Cultural Affairs, the New York State Council on the Arts and the Ford Foundation, and noted the memorial nonprofit raises roughly $750,000 annually for maintenance and programming. He asked the board to help spread awareness in the neighborhood and said the installation will be featured on the nonprofit's website.
The committee indicated it will draft a resolution supporting the memorial installation while tracking lingering items such as final Parks approvals, engineering sign‑offs, lighting details and any follow‑up on wildlife impacts. The committee also requested visual materials for future outreach and signage planning.
