MONUMENTS NOW’ – Part I: Paul Ramírez Jonas
Eternal Flame’
Medium: Five bbq grills, matches, steel, wood, concrete and smoke
Dimensions: 11 × 11 × 20 ft
Photo Credits – #1 Image by Sara Morgan of Socrates staff bbq ; #2 & 4 Images by Scott Lynch of local chefs cookout for RAVA’s ‘Eternal Flame’ short documentary; #3 Image by Mary Kang of the family that runs Zenon Taverna at Queens Together’s ‘Eternal Flame’ cookout; #5 Installation image by KMDeco Creative Solutions: Mark DiConzo
About
Paul Ramírez Jonas’ ‘Eternal Flame’ is a monument in the form of a communal grill and imagines cooking culture as both a symbolic and real eternal flame – there is always a lit cooking fire somewhere on this globe. The work honors the role of cuisine and cooking in cultural cohesion and expression among communities and identities, even when individuals and families relocate locally, nationally or internationally.
‘Eternal Flame’ is designed to recognize the importance of dialogue and exchange. With this in mind, the artist is producing a series of videos featuring local and distant chefs preparing recipes and relating stories on each dish’s significance. Ramírez Jonas imagines cooking culture as a symbolic eternal flame, enduring in communities for generations, over vast distances.
Public Use
Artist Paul Ramírez Jonas’ ‘Eternal Flame’ grills was open for public use from May 2021 – February 2024 during the Park’s open hours, which are every day from 9am to sunset. There is no reservation system, instead the grills were available on a first-come, first-served basis. Grillers must properly dispose of used charcoal in the labeled metal containers in the grilling area. All other barbecue-related waste can be disposed of in the Park’s trash bins, or if it is compostable – in the compost bins. Please note: there is no alcohol allowed at the Park.
Programming
‘Eternal Flame’ Documentary Short
See artist Paul Ramírez Jonas’ ‘Eternal Flame’ monument installation activated by five Queens, New York-based chefs in this documentary short by film-makers RAVA (Ava Wiland and Rafael Salazar). As the chefs cook delicious recipes from around the world, they share their thoughts on cuisine as an enduring touchstone of culture and heritage.
Virtual Conversation: After the Monument
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This discussion features artist https://socratessculpturepark.org/artist/paul-ramirez-jonas/Paul Ramirez Jonas; Courtenay Finn, Chief Curator at https://mocacleveland.org/aboutCleveland’s Museum of Contemporary Art; Kendal Henry, Director of https://www1.nyc.gov/site/dclapercentforart/about/about.pagePercent for Art, at https://www1.nyc.gov/site/dcla/index.pageNYC Department of Cultural Affairs facilitated by https://socratessculpturepark.org/park-profile-jess-wilcox/Jess Wilcox, Curator & Director of Exhibitions at Socrates.
The talk focused on two of Ramirez Jonas’s public art works: ‘https://socratessculpturepark.org/exhibition/ramirez-jonas/Eternal Flame’ at Socrates and ‘https://mocacleveland.org/exhibitions/paul-ram%C3%ADrez-jonas-public-trustPublic Trust’ at moCa Cleveland. The speakers will address public space as contested ground, civic participation, and the role of monuments in the contemporary culture war.
Courtenay Finn
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