Why Is There A Penguin In Town Square?
Jun 16, 2010 7:56 - 4 Comments
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You can’t help but notice the big white penguin in front of the Rockville Memorial Library. What on earth is it doing there? When I first spotted it, I looked around for a sign or plaque. I checked to see if there were any other penguins stoically perched under trees, then I snapped a picture.
At home I start wondering if anyone knows. I googled “penguin in Rockville Town Square” without really expecting to find an answer but what do you know? On the Senior Artists Alliance website I find an announcement from Irma Spencer:
Two of my outdoor pieces are spending five months leased to the city of Rockville. My “Penguin of Summer” can be seen in the Rockville Town Center plaza, under a tree, surveying his strange warming environment and watching children play in the fountain. He will reside there until November.
The Rockville Park, home of the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre and the Glenview Mansion, has 6 sculptures on its grounds. My painted yellow round piece, “Happy Daze” is on the grass facing the entrance road.
So the “Penguin of Summer” artist also has a piece in Sculpture on the Grounds. Mystery solved, but the penguin is really Silver Spring’s mascot.
Thank you for bringing the full feed back! Much appreciated
.Haven’t seen the penguin yet, but I’m sure I will.
This is the Cultural Art Commission’s very first year for Sculpture on the Plaza. As such, only one piece — Irma Spencer’s delightful “Penguin of Summer”- was chosen for Rockville Town Square this year. Much like Sculpture on the Grounds, it is a time-limited installation.
I saw the penguin there on Monday and like Cindy thought “Silver Spring”. I was amused and thought that having him near, if not in, the fountain was quite appropriate. Another choice might have been looking into the window at a seafood resturant. I do believe I did see a crack in his base so I hope that was not a bad omen.
but it seems his wing is snapped off. vandalism or accident? hoping it is repairable, he’s so cute!