On the morning of September 17, 2024, a group of educators, students, parents, neighbors, restoration specialists, and artist Jim Paulsen gathered around the whimsical Peely Wheely sculpture in front of Wolfe Street Academy (WSA) to rededicate the iconic piece of Baltimore public art. In 1978, a similar group stood in front of the then-new statue erected in front of the historic Baltimore City Public School #23, including Mr. Paulsen.
For 46 years, Peely Wheely’s characters have greeted families at Public School #23 – it’s been WSA for the past 20 years – and neighbors in southeast Baltimore. It’s a part of the fabric of the community, but in recent years, the sculpture was showing its age with corrosion, scratches, paint splatters, and a few missing appendages from the dream-like creatures depicted on the large artwork.
Beginning last November, with a generous grant from the Maryland State Arts Council, and the expertise of Mr. Paulsen, several advocates from the Friends of Public Art, and talented conservators, Peely Wheely was restored to its original grandeur. Wolfe Street art teacher Laura Bevacqua wove the months-long restoration into the school’s vibrant art program, helping students understand the careful restoration process to bring the beloved artwork back to life.
Watch a video of Mr. Paulsen talking about how he created Peely Wheely.
The stunning results of the restoration were on full display on September 17, but as Principal Mark Gaither shared with the crowd, Peely Wheely represents far more than an exceptional example of public art in an elementary school setting (a rare occurrence for public art in Baltimore). “The world is too complex and nuanced to understand solely through phonics or fact families,” he explained. “That is where the arts come in. The arts spark creative thinking and problem solving in unique situations that allow and encourage our kids to think around corners, see something from a new perspective, or imagine what might be possible.”
Ms. Bevacqua inspired the crowd with her words about WSA’s passion for the arts and the central role Peely Wheely plays in the school’s arts-infused curriculum. “The arts are an essential part of every student’s growth and development at Wolfe Street,” she said. “By developing an understanding of the fine arts, its history, its creation, and its appreciation, students are able to see the world through different lenses, develop critical thinking skills, and ignite their imaginations.”
She explained that having students witness the restoration process first-hand has “opened their world a little wider … allowing them to see the people behind the work, the hours that go into the creation of a piece, and the end result.”
Watch the livestream of the rededication celebration.
A big thanks to Mr. Paulsen, the WSA community, Ms. Bevacqua, the Maryland State Arts Council, Friends of Public Art representatives Cindy Kelly, Linda DePalma, and Mary Ann Mears, and the supporters of the restoration: Upper Fells Point Improvement Association, the Baltimore office of Promotion and the Arts, and The Public Arts Commission.
Enjoy the photo gallery of the Peely Wheely Rededication.
