The Harvey
just across from Elm Park at 102 Russell St., will include the presentation of the Harvey Ball Smile Award, performances by Central Mass Dance Academy and live entertainment by The MidTown Horns (a 16-piece band), raffle packages curated by local Worcester businesses, a Wall of Spirits raffle, hors d’oeuvres, food stations, and more.
William Wallace, executive director of the Worcester Historical Museum, said “The ‘Harvey’ is presented annually to an individual, organization, or group of individuals whose commitments have made a difference in the city of Worcester … and helped people throughout the community smile.”
Art in the Park “is a public art exhibit created to present large-scale sculptures in historic Elm Park, enriching the lives of those that live, work, study, play, and visit spaces and places in Central Massachusetts,” the museum said in its announcement about this year’s Harvey Ball Smile Award. “Art in the Park 2023 is a testimony to the impact of public art in Worcester, truly making our entire community smile.”
“It’s an honor,” Hall said of receiving the award. “I’m glad they’re able to say it’s something to smile about.”
‘Joy, Community, Creativity’
Art in the Park started in 2008 as an annual event until 2011, after which it became biennial, making this year’s exhibition the 10th. It gets support from the City of Worcester (including the Parks and Forestry departments), individuals, local businesses and foundations.
“One of the reasons we do it, we want people to respond to it and hopefully it does bring a smile to people’s faces,” Hall said.
Hall said her team is small. “We’re a very lean group. Six of us on the committee.” The 28 works in the exhibition were chosen by a jury of three, and includes national, regional and local artists.
This year’s exhibition has “been received very well,” Hall said.
The theme of Art in the Park this year is “Love in Action: Joy, Community, Creativity.”
Hall said she was talking to one person viewing the exhibition not long after it opened “who used the word ‘joy,’ and I felt, well, OK.”
‘The icon for happiness and good will’
Coming close to the end of the exhibition,
Art in the Park/ World Smile Day
1 to 4 p.m.
Where:
Elm Park
Free 22nd Annual Harvey Ball 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Oct. 6
How much:
When:
St. Spyridon Cultural Center, 102 Russell St., Worcester
Where:
How much:
VIP Reception, held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., $150; general admission from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. $100. For tickets and more information, visit worcesterhistory.org. Hall did not want to ponder the next Art in the Park just yet during a recent interview. “I’m taking a break from thinking about it,” she said. “We’ll just see what happens.”
However, “One of the exciting things is other shows that came about in direct response,” she said.
Art in the Park and Anna Maria College in Paxton have collaborated to bring public art to the college campus, and Clark University has an upcoming Art in the Heart of Main South show, Hall said.
The first Harvey Ball Smile Award was presented to Allen W. Fletcher, now founder and president of the Worcester Public Market off Kelley Square and former president of the Canal District Alliance and owner of Worcester Magazine, in 2001.
The award and the annual Harvey Ball were created by the Worcester Historical Museum just after Ball’s death in 2001 at the age of 79.
“One of our (Worcester’s) claims to fame is the icon for happiness and good will from Worcester, Massachusetts,” Wallace said.
He recalled that around the time of the first award, he was quoted as saying “If Hollywood can have the Oscars we can have the Harvey.”
This year sees several anniversaries involving Harvey Ball and Art in the Park at Elm Park, Wallace observed.
This is Art in the Park’s 10th exhibition and the organization is 15 years old. This year is also the 170th anniversary of the decision in 1853 to purchase land in Worcester (actually purchased in 1854) for a municipal park that we now know as Elm Park, Wallace said.
Meanwhile, 2023 is the 60th anniversary of the creation of the smiley face in 1963, and the 25th annual World Smile Day, Wallace said. “You don’t now which card to buy.”