The Writer’s Desk is a public artwork and tribute to Rolfe Neill who retired in 1997 as Chairman and Publisher of the Charlotte Observer after twenty-two years of service. During that time he was involved in nearly every achievement of the community and he is frequently referred to as the Patron Saint of the Arts. The committee chose to honor him with an artwork that will forever inform, challenge and delight. Here are his words literally carved in stone, along with representations of the tools of the writer’s trade, including Rolfe’s favorite, his manual typewriter.
Artist Statement:
My task has been to create an artwork, placed in the plaza of the children’s learning center, which honors Rolfe Neill and his legacy. The challenge was to unite the adult themes of Rolfe’s life and writings with an exuberant site soon to be filled with youth and families. It was important to create an engaging environment for the diverse community that will inhabit the space. I wanted to celebrate Rolfe’s passion for truth, the written word, and the writing profession, as well as a place to gather, reflect, sit quietly or noisily, or create a spontaneous performance at an outdoor gathering. The work has developed in concept as the tools of the writer. A keyboard becomes a series of seats ready for a performance, a scattering of pencils are benches, a tower of books becomes a light reflecting beacon, three rubber stamps admonish the viewer to Seek the Truth, Speak the Truth, and Hear the Truth.