Massachusetts female sculptor called upon to honor centuries of women’s achievement with new Lexington monument

Lexington will unveil a new monument Wednesday that honors local women for their historic contributions to the town and in some cases the world. The community chose local artist Meredith Bergmann to bring their vision, LexSeeHer, to life with a moving and thought-provoking bronze sculpture.“I think it’s wonderful that Lexington has risen up and requested this monument," Bergmann said. Working inside her Acton studio, Bergmann is a highly accomplished and sought-after sculptor who enjoys creating recognizable forms. Mostly, but not exclusively, that of the human figure. "I tell stories with sculpture," she said. She said she believes telling stories of others through her art is a responsibility not taken lightly. "To tell stories that have depth and history. I love getting commissions to do public work that has very deep and meaningful themes," Bergmann said. Examples include the Boston Women’s Memorial that Bergmann created 20 years ago. In 2020, she was the artist behind the Women’s Rights Pioneers Memorial for New York City’s Central Park. Now, her latest public art project is nearing completion. "I’m always drawing strength and inspiration from the lives of women who have achieved something and helped make the world better," Bergmann said. Plans for the 12-foot by 16-foot bronze sculpture have been in the works for several years. At Sincere Metal Works in Amesbury, about 20 craft men and women have been hard at work casting and putting the finishing touches on the bronze sculpture. When finally in place on a granite plaza on Lexington Green, the memorial will recognize the economic, political, intellectual, cultural and social contributions made by local women across the more than 300 years of the town's history. "One of the first figures to be decided on was Margrett Tulip, who was a Lexington resident, a free black woman. After a certain point was re-enslaved," Bergmann said. Tulip would successfully sue and win her freedom back. It’s just one of 26 individual stories told in the piece. Another is Anna Harrington. She staged a spinning wheel protest to voice opposition to British taxes on fabric. At the start of the American Revolution Harrington exclaimed, “Something must be done." The same phrase was later echoed by the suffragette movement in 1887. Now in 2024, this work entitled “Something is Being Done” finally pays homage to women everywhere. "I think the main message is that women have been here contributing, achieving. Even if those achievements in their own days were not considered worth of notice. We can draw inspiration from them now," Bergmann said. One of the original requests by the selection committee was that the monument be an interactive experience. Bergmann thought it would be wonderful that visitors could touch and hold hands with the women as you passed through the monument. She hopes people will feel as though they completed the circle of the piece and the history it represents.