Where did Thurston get his name?
By Rebecca Chin
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The Fitchburg Art Museum is a community and family-oriented place that wants to integrate local artists from all over New England, as well as create a hands-on learning opportunity for all. Not only do they contain different pieces of contemporary art, they also include a few sections for different cultures. The Fitchburg Art Museum wanted a piece of artwork outside the building as an attraction, to make the exterior appear much more like an art museum. The Fitchburg Art Museum asked a community organization to make a piece of art without a name. Thurston was made completely by children, who painted and welled the iron pieces together. The museum held a contest in picking a name for the statue. A local student Alyssa St. Cyr, from Fitchburg, Mckay School won the contest.
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History
Feed Your Imagination
“It’s my pleasure to introduce you to Thurston! Thurston is named after one of Fitchburg’s local citizens from long ago, Asa Thurston. He was born in the city of Fitchburg in 1787, which would make him two hundred twenty nine years old today. Thurston is the perfect name for Fitchburg’s latest sculpture because Asa was also an artist of his own kind. He was a scythe maker. Being a scythe maker allowed him to use his knowledge and creativity to construct a tool that would turn an ordinary overgrown field into a fine sculpted work of art. This connects Thurston to a local artist, Doug Kornfeld. Doug is also a creative and innovative artist who designed the bold and beautiful metal sculpture who proudly welcomes friends and families to the Fitchburg Art Museum. Thurston’s metal physique will continue to stand proud and tall along with carrying on the rich history of the city of Fitchburg for many years to come.”-Alyssa St. Cyr