Northeastern student gov. calls for outdoor art installation's removal

Arts

A petition to remove the art installation “Rooted” from Northeastern’s Krentzman Quad has garnered 1,883 signatures.

The public art “Rooted” is positioned in Northeastern University’s Krentzman Quadrangle. Pat Greenhouse/Boston Globe Staff, File

Northeastern University’s student government has called on the school to remove an outdoor art installation that’s been likened to something out of Dr. Seuss’s imagination, branding the art “idiosyncratic and incongruous” with Northeastern’s architecture.

Passed in late October, the resolution from the Student Government Association Senate argues the colorful “Rooted” installation has shown signs of “visible discoloration” and clashes with Northeastern’s “historic modernist white brick architecture.” The installation’s 15-foot-tall flower statues were erected last April in Krentzman Quad — a popular spot for graduation photos, per the resolution.

A 2024 Northeastern graduate who launched a Change.org petition back in April put it bluntly: “I find that the recently installed art exhibit in Krentzman Quad is obstructing the natural beauty of our campus and ruining our photos,” the anonymous user wrote. The petition had 1,883 signatures as of Tuesday afternoon.

Passed with 52 votes in favor and 12 abstentions, the student government measure calls on Northeastern to remove “Rooted” from Krentzman and gather student input on public art projects moving forward. The vote was first reported by The Huntington News, Northeastern’s student-run newspaper.

Cicely Carew, the Cambridge-based artist behind the sculptures, said she was saddened to hear about the resolution.

“The university did not inform me about these concerns, so I am just beginning to understand the situation,” Carew said in an email interview. “Public art, by its nature, is meant to engage its surroundings and spark reflection, so I recognize that it can evoke different interpretations and emotions.”

She added: “My intention with Rooted was always to create a work that invites people into a moment of reflection about change, interconnection, and belonging. If it’s inspiring discussion, I hope those conversations can lead to a greater understanding of the piece and its intent.”

Carew’s installation arrived on campus as part of Northeastern’s Public Art Initiative. In April, the artist told Northeastern Global News her intent was to “blanket” passersby in color and “inspire wonder and allow for enchantment.”

Carew told Boston.com the Northeastern assigned her the location for “Rooted,” and the quad inspired the work’s concept.

“The piece was designed to resonate with the landscape’s natural elements while emphasizing transformation and belonging,” Carew said. “While I understand that some may see it as ‘out of place,’ I see its placement as an invitation to reimagine our relationship with our surroundings, to notice the interplay between built and natural environments, and to appreciate how both shape our experiences.”

Artist Cicely Carew worked to install “Rooted,” an art installation of 15-foot-tall flower statues on Northeastern’s campus. – Jessica Rinaldi/Boston Globe Staff, File

Reached for comment on the resolution, Northeastern spokesperson Renata Nyul noted the university’s Public Art Initiative has welcomed artists from all over the world to essentially create an open museum.

“They have turned our Boston campus into a canvas of unique installations that each tell a different story,” Nyul said in a statement. “We embrace the idea that public art often sparks discussions, disagreements, and insights. This is consistent with the purpose of a university.”

Carew agreed the resolution serves as an opportunity for discussion.

“Art is a bridge — it connects people to ideas, to one another, and even to themselves,” she said. “I hope Rooted serves as a quiet but steady reminder that change is a natural and vital part of life. Its materials and form reflect the beauty and vulnerability of transformation. I hope it encourages viewers to reflect on their own processes of growth and how they interact with the world around them.”

Carew also thanked everyone who has engaged with “Rooted” — be it through admiration or critique — and said she welcomes the opportunity to learn from the perspectives of students and the broader Northeastern community.

“To the students, I’d say: I created this work as an offering, a chance to pause and see beauty in the cycles of life and change,” Carew added. “Even if it challenges you or feels unexpected, I hope it can create space for curiosity and connection, not only with the piece but with each other.”