FUNDRAISING COAL WOMAN SCULPTURE PROJECT

Location:

Frederiksted Pier replacing the fountain inside gates.

History:

The project began in 2013 when Susan Luery was invited to be the artist in residence at the CMCArts. As a sculptor of mostly large-scale installations this invitation commenced the Museum’s vision to initiate sculpture on the Frederiksted waterfront.  As artist in residence Ms. Luery conducted sculpting workshops providing instruction in figurative sculpture at the museum using live models. She has presented similar workshops as a faculty member for the South Shore Arts Center on Boston’s seacoast and for the National Endowment for the Arts.

Susan Luery’s love of the Island and respect for its history led to the development of the “Coal Woman” represented by the bronze maquette that is a model for a large scale installation designed to replace the fountain on the Frederiksted Pier. The coal woman theme was chosen because the pier is Virgin Island Port Authority property and Ms. Luery was asked by their representative to develop a “dock worker” for the installation. As the dock worker theme developed it seemed more poignant to honor the women that served the docks in the Caribbean as a historic point.  Because these women endured tremendous adversity in inhuman conditions and built the economy of the Caribbean by serving the ships that sailed the world over, The Coal Woman is a symbol for all of the Caribbean.

In 2014 with the development of the theme and drawings, the first stage of the project began with a presentation in St Thomas to representatives from all the members of the VIPA for their approval.  A letter of endorsement was issued to The CMCArts and to Ms. Luery signed by the director of the VIPA approving the intent of the Museum and the Artist to further develop their plans for the installation. In 2014 the Board of Directors of the CMCArts approved the project as well.

With this endorsement, site planning and further development began.  Architect for the project, Vcevy Strekolovsky of Boston, worked with the VIPA civil engineer to determine feasibility of the installation at the site.  Once that study was complete, Ms. Luery created the bronze model that represents The Coal Woman, a sculpture honoring the women that served the ports throughout the Caribbean by supplying coal to the ships until 1892, when their stand for women’s rights changed history. The sculpture features a bronze, traditionally rendered female dockworker carrying a coal basket on her head while taking a step up a gangplank. Her flowing, windswept garments conjure images of the historic colonial past. Standing tall on the pier and facing the ships that arrive in port, the sculpture will be framed by the backdrop of the charming, traditional Caribbean architecture of Frederiksted, providing a dramatic vision for this major port of entry. With pedestal, the statue will be approximately 14 feet tall.

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Ms. Luery has created other high visibility sculptures such as the “Babe Ruth Monument,” one of the most frequently photographed sculptures at the entrance to Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore. She is noted for her figurative large-scale works, which can be found in public spaces, museums, and private collections across the United States and internationally.

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In 2020 the current Board of Directors agreed to support the project and serve as fiscal agent for project funds. Fundraising is the responsibility of Renee Green, a film maker who works for Ameriprise Financial. CMCArts is responsible for developing local awareness and support for the project and assisting with information for grants prepared by Ms. Greene.