Public Art Conference Archive—2004

Key Panel Presentation: The Future of Our National Mall
John Parsons and Elyn Zimmerman's Abstracts

John Parsons, Associate Regional Director, Land, Resources and Planning, National Parks Service, Washington, DC.
John Parsons' presentation started with a brief history of the National Mall, enabling the audience to have an appreciation of the two centuries of public debate that has steered the evolution of the Nation's Front Yard

The National Mall is a completed work of civic art which is in need of embellishment rather than development. The National Park Service will be undertaking a planning process this fall. This Conservation Plan for the National Mall will be focusing on rehabilitation of this landscape, an increase in maintenance levels for trees, shrubs, floral displays and lawns, enhancement of visitor facilities and services, and accommodation for special events and demonstrations, as well as recreational uses.

Elyn Zimmerman, Artist, Member of Commission of Fine Arts, New York, NY
The National Mall has an extensive amount of art sites along its perimeters—most of it traditional sculpture, including the works at the sculpture gardens of the National Gallery and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.

Public art does not have to be permanent or object-like. Many artists today work with temporary installations and/or media including video, lasers, and sound. These needn't occupy a permanent physical space, but can be set up for a period of time. Some permanent fixtures such as seating, lighting, pathways can be enhanced by having artists and other design disciplines including architects and graphic artists, work on the designs for these permanent fixtures. The National Mall would benefit from developing opportunities to work with artists in these new ways.