SALEM – The City of Salem, in partnership with the Salem Public Art Commission, is proud to announce a new public art installation near the Salem Ferry Terminal located at 10 Blaney Street as part of the city’s Salem 400+ quadricentennial celebrations.
The public is invited to attend the dedication of the installation of Traces of Arrival on Thursday, September 24th at 5:30pm at 10 Blaney St, Salem MA. This event marks a significant addition to Salem’s public art landscape and serves as a lasting tribute to the city’s past, present, and future as part of the Salem 400+ celebrations.
Earlier this year, the City and the Public Art Commission invited artists to submit proposals for a signature sculpture that reflects Salem’s rich history, vibrant creativity, and evolving future. Artists were asked to envision works that connect to the themes of Salem 400+, honoring the city’s quadricentennial while recognizing its deep Indigenous roots, layered histories, and enduring cultural energy.
The selected work, Traces of Arrival by artist Roark T. Congdon, is a striking sculptural installation that draws inspiration from historic navigation charts and spatial systems used to understand Salem Harbor and its global maritime connections. The piece reinterprets these cartographic forms into a three-dimensional structure, translating movement, orientation, and arrival into a geometric framework anchored within the harbor landscape.
Rooted in extensive historical research, including sources such as Salem’s Centuries, Salem Then and Now, This Land Is Their Land, and Maritime History of Massachusetts, Traces of Arrival reflects the intersecting forces that have shaped Salem over time. Indigenous pathways, colonial expansion, and global trade routes are expressed through intersecting planes of weathering steel, converging around a shared center.
Rather than depicting history directly, the sculpture creates a spatial experience that invites reflection. As viewers move around and through the structure, shifting light and shadow evoke the passage of time and the changing conditions of navigation. A central piece frames views of the harbor and horizon, and casts intricate, ever-changing shadows as the sun passes overhead, integrating the surrounding landscape into the artwork itself. The piece is grounded by a pedestal of reclaimed granite excavated from the base of Salem’s own Old Town Hall during the recent restoration and accessibilities improvement project, further reinforcing the artwork’s connection to the city’s physical and historical foundations.
Traces of Arrival transforms the geometric systems that once guided movement across land and sea into a permanent, evolving public space. Its open design allows for continuous interaction with light, weather, and visitors, ensuring that its meaning grows and adapts across seasons and generations.
Artist Roark T. Congdon, a Seattle-based sculptor, public artist, and university professor, is known for his work at the intersection of material history, fabrication, and site-responsive design. His practice combines classical sculptural techniques with contemporary fabrication methods to create durable, place-based work for public environments. Congdon has led numerous civic-scale projects in collaboration with municipalities, engineers, and community stakeholders, and has taught design and fabrication at the University of Washington’s Department of Architecture.
The City would also like to acknowledge Massachusetts based artist Joshua Ruder for his role as a collaborating artist in the cutting, preparation, and installation oversight of the reclaimed historic granite in accordance with the lead artist’s specification.
The Public Art Commission would also like to give special thanks to the Salem Harbor Port Authority for their support in hosting this project on lands within their jurisdiction, both now in its temporary location as well as the anticipated permanent home of the work, which will be thoughtfully integrated into the surrounds of the new Ferry Terminal faciality once it is completed.
For more information about Salem 400+ and upcoming events, please visit: https://www.salem400.
About the Salem Public Art Commission
The Salem Public Art Commission (PAC) is committed to enriching and enlivening the urban environment through innovative and transformative works of art in all media and modalities. With a focus on local artists, especially those historically underrepresented, and a global perspective of the art scene, PAC seeks to foster greater community awareness of and interaction with the arts, enhance the scope of Salem’s public art collection, and celebrate diversity in all its forms among citizens and visitors of Salem’s alike. The PAC feels Public Art in Salem should contribute to the community’s identity as the cultural hub of the North Shore and a center for creativity and enhance the quality of Salem’s built environment. Our goal is to nurture diversity & creativity; foster a sense of community pride & belonging; and enhance the quality of life for all. Learn more at https://www.salemma.gov/arts-
