Hi,

I know that this forum is oriented toward practical issues faced by
public art administrators, so I hope this is not out of place . . .  In
the next two weeks, if you find yourself in a tiny airplane seat,
flipping through a catalog of high-priced, unnecessary gadgets, perhaps
your would really rather be reading my essay exploring the controversy
around Confederate Monuments. :)

https://sculpturemagazine.art/what-do-we-really-want-from-war-memorials/

Here is a tease:

"As a sculptor who has spent most of his life in the South, I have
followed recent debates about Confederate monuments with interest. Those
debates typically descend into a polarized zone, where those who want
the monuments to remain are labeled racists, and those who favor removal
are accused of trying to erase Southern heritage. Many people’s opinions
are formed without even looking at a particular monument under
discussion. Finding solutions, or even acceptable compromises, is
challenging in the midst of conflicting views of history and ideology.

As we struggle to determine the future of Confederate monuments, we
might do well to step back and ask a broader question: “What do we
really want from war memorials?”

Harry McDaniel