Artist to redesign Palm Springs AIDS memorial sculpture in response to criticism
Editor's note: This story was originally published in September. We are republishing it as we look back at some of our most-read stories of the year.
An art installation meant to shed light on a somber topic — those who have died of AIDS — has instead sparked a lowbrow debate, leading the artist to say he's redesigning the piece.
The sculpture by Palm Springs artist Phillip K. Smith is planned for the Downtown Park at Museum Way and Belardo Road, near the "Forever Marilyn" statue. Under Smith's original design, the front of the sculpture consisted of a large piece of limestone shaped into a circle with several concentric ringed grooves cut into it surrounding a hole in the middle.
The back side, which had received the most criticism, was to consist of a ring of protruding forms surrounding the hole. That's what led Smith to tell the Palm Springs Public Arts Commission in September that he is working with the task force supporting the sculpture to develop a new design because some people say the plans resemble the anatomy of human buttocks.
The task force’s website says the grooves would represent unity through struggle and grief, while the full sculpture would present "a timeless, enduring landmark hovering above the ground." It said the sculpture was to be “a potential touchstone for every category of community and individual struggle.”
“Is it possible for one landmark to address human pain, suffering, grief, love, hope?” the description continued. “Is it possible for all people to unite together and lift each other up, no matter the individual challenge?”
The statue’s appearance became a hot subject of discussion and jokes on social media. Many complained that the statue could bring embarrassment to the city or have questioned what the statue has to do with AIDS and HIV.
Several online news outlets have run stories about the sculpture, while multiple videos have gone viral on the social media app TikTok.
During a Palm Springs Public Arts Commission meeting, Smith read a prepared statement in which he said he and the task force were aware of the criticism and would be working to create a modified design.
“Please know that your voice has been heard, and we have already been working on new iterations of the memorial sculpture, and we look forward to sharing the next iteration with the community later this year,” he read.
Smith said the redesign process has been happening for months and involves making shifts to the design that “honor original intentions while directly addressing people’s No. 1 concern.”
He said the changes are part of the design process and that he and the task force believe they are moving toward a final sculpture that ensures those lost to AIDS and HIV are "forever respected and never forgotten.”
Smith apologized to those who were offended by the design.
“It was never our intent to offend anyone,” he said. He later noted that it would be “impossible to create a statue that 100% of the community will like” and said “that is the reality of art in the public realm.”
The sculpture is being paid for via private fundraising through the task force, aside from $65,000 the commission voted to provide to help pay for installation. The Palm Springs City Council voted in 2021 to allow the statue to eventually be installed in the park.
During last week's arts commission meeting, commission Chair Gary Armstrong said that he respected both sides of the sculpture debate and that the controversy was emblematic of the challenges that come with selecting which artworks to put city money toward.
“It's more than picking a design and picking a color,” he said. “We are helping and reflecting the citizenry of Palm Springs.”
Paul Albani-Burgio covers breaking news and the city of Palm Springs. Follow him on Twitter at @albaniburgiop and email him at paul.albani-burgio@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Artist to redesign Palm Springs AIDS sculpture following criticism
