 |
September
22, 2001
The
sculpture is in place! On a beautiful Saturday evening in Brattle
Square, Cambridge, a bronze statue of Igor's puppet 'Doo Doo' was
unveiled to a jubilant crowd of about 250 people. The weather cooperated
and everything went off without a hitch. At the base of the granite
pedestal on which DooDoo sits, are three bronze bricks with a memorial
inscription.
Immediately following the dedication ceremony, there was an hour
long vaudeville-style street show starring 10 local street artists
in the middle of Brattle Street.
Earlier in the day, a showing of two documentary films on Igor packed
the 250 seat Brattle Theater. Overall, it was a great day filled
with emotion and celebration. |
|
The
inscription on the bricks reads:
IN MEMORY OF BELOVED PUPPETEER
IGOR FOKIN
1960-1996
AND IN CELEBRATION
OF ALL STREET
PERFORMERS
Igor Fokin's puppet DooDoo was recreated and designed by sculptor
Konstantin Simun. This memorial was funded in part by grants from The Fund For
The Arts, Mass Cultural Council, and Harvard Square Businesses. Dedicated September
22, 2001.
|
 |
 |
The
whole day was well documented by several people, including Chris
Schmidt and Gary Henoch; the guys working on an Igor documentary.
Once their project is complete, there will be information on
this web site about possible future film screenings. Update:
Their film is complete and is now available for purchase. Visit
this page for more information, or go directly
to their web
site. Another filmmaker, Yelena Demikovsky has completed her
video project on Igor, as well. More detail and purchasing information
on Yelena's video here.
Thanks to all who came to the event and to everyone who supported the project
fom the start to finish. |
|
Your
letters of support worked! We received over 100 letters of support for
the project from the community. Thanks to everyone who wrote in. Funding
for the project was secured, in part, from The Massachusetts Cultural
Council and in part by a grant from The Fund for the Arts,
a restricted fund of the New England Foundation for the Arts. We
would also like to thank the Cambridge Arts Council, the Harvard
Square Business Association and the City of Cambridge for all
their generous support.
|
A
Brief History of the Project:
Since the day of Igor's death, people had been talking about installing
some kind of memorial plaque or sign or sculpture on the spot where he
worked in Harvard Square. In the Spring of 1997, a small group led by
the Cambridge Arts Council met to discuss what would be an appropriate
tribute. We decided on a few things:
- There
should be some kind of plaque in the sidewalk.
- The
plaque should not only memorialize Igor, but should pay tribute to
all street performers, as well.
- A
small, unobtrusive sculpture of one of Igor's puppets would be wonderful.
The puppet Doo-Doo (below) was the natural choice.
- Whatever
was installed should not interfere or make it difficult for other performers
to use the spot for future shows.
- The
location of the memorial should be on the corner of One Brattle Square, where
Igor worked most often and performed his final show.
|
 |
A
bronze replica of the puppet "DooDoo" (approx. 10"
tall) sits on a 3-foot tall granite bollard overlooking the spot
where Igor performed in Harvard Square. An accompanying plaque which
pays tribute to Igor and to all street performers is installed in
the sidewalk.
Russian artist Konstantin Simun was commissioned to create the artworks. |
|
Home Tribute
Memorial
Sculpture Photos
About
A
poem for Igor, "Puppeteer" Igor
Video
|
