That's a Wrap: 6th Annual International Sculpture Symposium

In explaining his sculpture, "Latin American Bus," Peruvian artist Miguel Angel Velit explains what it means in his country, to have transportation.

"It represents some part of the culture of the poor people of Peru, Cuba, Bolivia – they like to buy a car to transport people, but they use bicycles or cars from 50 years ago, so they use old car parts, or wheels to make a bus," Velit said. 

He said inside these "buses" many people will crowd in, along with their chickens or other animals, to get where they need to be.

The pieces of metal he welded together to create his sculpture are not scrap metal, says Velit. 

"These are all useful things, new things that had no use," he says, standing next to a collection of cylinders, free weights, dowels – a mix of metals with different weights and textures.

Velit is one of three Latino artists who took part in this year's three-week International Sculpture Symposium, which concludes today with a closing ceremony at 1 p.m. at Park Social located at the corner of Pine, Center and Ledge Streets.

On Friday Velit was finishing up his piece, while his fellow sculptors, Tony Jimenez, from Costa Rica, and Julio Aguilera, of Venezuela, prepared for a farewell luncheon, prepared by Alderman Diane Sheehan.

It's a bit of a tradition that came about after she first met Darold Rorabacher who's on the Sculpture Symposium committee.

"I asked Darold what I could do to help, and here I am," said Sheehan, serving chicken tarragon sandwiches on croissants, and Hungarian mushroom soup. "I look forward to it." 

This is the sixth symposium, the only annual city-based program of its kind, said committee member Alfredo Ortega, of Merrimack. Artists worked collaboratively with Ledge Street Elementary School, working with students when not working on their own creations.

Sculptors are chosen "for their ability to contribute positively to the artistic and cultural development of Nashua," according to the symposium website, with a stated goal of "helping improve the quality of life for both visitors and residents alike."

Ortega explained that one unique contribution this year's Latino sculptors can make to Nashua is expressing through art something that is a vital aspect of life for many families who've settled here from Latin America.

"The family unit is so important to Hispanic culture, and sometimes you lose that connection when you move far from your home," Ortega said.

Jimenez said this is the first time he's worked in metal – he's well known in Costa Rica for his dramatic wood and stone sculptures that communicate the primal force of family relationships.

"In my life, family is most important and so I'm trying to transmit this to other people. The family is the most important thing – segura – safe, for children to grow," Jimenez said.

His piece, "Family," is four figures – mother, father and children – all formed from "weathering steel" which creates its own protective brown coating to prevent disintegration.

Jimenez shows a small model of the finished sculpture, turning one of the pieces over to show its base.

"The pieces are created to have movement when they stand together, but you can see the base is a triangle, because it's the most sturdy structure, like family," Jimenez said.

The Nashua International Sculpture Symposium is a collaborative effort of City Arts Nashua, Nashua Area Artists Association, the City of Nashua, and the Andres Institute of Art, made possible with support from many volunteers who donate time and money. Artists worked daily in a warehouse at Ultima NIMCO Corp. in the Millyard, and stayed with host families, afforded by donations and grants. No public funding goes into the annual symposium.

Past symposiums have included artists from Vietnam, Egypt,  Israel, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Cuba,England, Ireland, Italy, as well as artists Native American artists.

John Weidman, co-founder and director of Andres Institute of Art in Brookline, directs the symposium, and said that, as with past sculptures produced from the symposium, the committee will work with the city to find the right placements.

"We want to work to integrate them into spaces. We don't want them plopped down in one place, but rather to see them become part of their surroundings," Weidman said. "A sculpture needs a place to breath."

The public is invited to stop by the closing ceremony June 8 at 1 p.m. at Park Social, corner of Pine, Central and Ledge streets.