Two colorful fruit sculptures on Main Street in Ellicott City have become the center of an unexpected controversy, with local officials citing concerns about their suggestive interpretations in modern internet culture. The Howard County historic preservation commission recently approved keeping an eggplant sculpture for another year but denied permission for a peach sculpture to remain, despite both being created by the same artist.
Artist Jan Kirsch, a landscape designer from Bozman on the Eastern Shore, expressed dismay at the negative reception her work has received. "My work is meant to give joy, not cause controversy," Kirsch said. "I've never been the recipient of such negativity." She was unaware that peach and eggplant emojis are commonly used on social media to represent body parts in suggestive ways.
Kirsch has been creating fruit and vegetable sculptures throughout Howard County for years. Her previous works include "Chile Pepper 2" at the Robinson Nature Center, an original "Aubergine" at the Howard County Welcome Center, a six-foot pear outside the George Howard Building, and intertwined carrots at the Howard County Center for the Arts. The current eggplant sculpture appeared on Main Street in 2018 after The Fund for Art in Ellicott City commissioned Kirsch to create a replacement when the community missed the original.
The peach sculpture was commissioned this spring by Don Reuwer, president of the Waverly Real Estate Group, who owns The Wine Bins building and other properties in the historic district. Like Kirsch, Reuwer was unaware of the sculptures' potential double meanings. "I didn't even know what the kids were up to," he admitted.
Anonymous complaints filed with the county's planning and zoning department in June triggered the controversy. The complaint about the peach sculpture stated that it "completely overwhelms the historic Merryman House and blocks the Main St. views." The complaints also noted that neither sculpture had received proper approval from the historic preservation commission for their current locations.
Julie Danna, chair of the historic preservation commission, acknowledged that she has difficulty looking past the sculptures' suggestive interpretations on social media. At a September 4th meeting, the commission unanimously approved letting the eggplant remain for 12 months after Reuwer amended his retroactive application to specify the temporary timeframe. However, they denied permission for the peach to stay in front of Georgia Grace Cafe.
"As a National Register historic district, we found that it did not comply with the current guidelines or county code," Danna explained regarding the peach sculpture. Several commission members felt the peach was too big and too bright for the historic setting. Danna suggested the sculpture would be better suited for "a more modern setting, like on a college campus or The Mall in Columbia."
Reuwer strongly disagreed with this assessment. "It's ridiculous to think you can't have modern art in a historic city," he said. "I disagree with that whole notion." He brought numerous letters of support from Main Street merchants to the commission meeting but was unable to enter them into the record because they were submitted too late. Reuwer plans to request permission to display the peach at a different location and has the option of appealing directly to Howard County Circuit Court.
Local business owners have embraced the sculptures as part of Ellicott City's quirky charm. Dave Carney, owner of The Wine Bin, welcomed the eggplant sculpture when it became available. His wine group even calls itself "The Aubergine." Carney reported that the sculpture attracts visitors who take selfies with it, and during colder months, people wrap it in scarves. "It's kitschy," he said, noting that it hasn't hurt his business.
Carney was particularly offended by remarks Danna made at the recent commission meeting, where she stated: "The store owners are temporary, and we are temporary on this, but we as a commission are the caretakers of how this town looks and the history of this town at the moment." Having owned The Wine Bin for almost two decades and survived two deadly floods that devastated Main Street in 2016 and 2018, Carney called the remarks "beyond offensive."
Paula Dwyer, owner of Georgia Grace Cafe, loves having the peach outside her restaurant. She explains that diners can easily find her cafe and often pose with the sculpture. "Ellicott City is a very eclectic place. It's quirky, fun and artsy," Dwyer said of the peach sculpture. On Thursday night, Carney and Dwyer hosted a sold-out wine dinner to celebrate both sculptures.
The controversy highlights broader tensions between preserving historic character and embracing contemporary art in historic districts. The commission acknowledged in official documents that its current guidelines lack specific recommendations for dealing with public art, instead referencing rules for street furniture and county code sections. Commissioner Ben Barlow noted that the Howard County Department of Planning and Zoning will make the final decision on whether the sculptures must be removed, as the historic preservation commission lacks enforcement power.
