‘They fit in with the town’: Eggplant, giant peach sprout controversy
By Tommie Clark
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ELLICOTT CITY, Maryland (WBAL) — An eggplant and a giant peach are sprouting controversy on Ellicott City’s century-old Main Street.
Business owners are being told the public art is too distracting for the historic area, but they feel the towering tributes to produce are fun and add character. Now, they’re fighting to keep the fruit.
A massive Georgia peach sits outside Georgia Grace Cafe, where owner Paula Dwyer was happy to see it installed several months ago.
“It was this big, beautiful orange peach. And, at first, honestly, I was like, ‘Wow, this is amazing. I’ve never seen anything like it,'” Dwyer told 11 News.
Across the street sits an enormous eggplant known as the Aubergine. Both produce have been popularized over texting language as playful nods to body parts.
David Carney, owner of The Wine Bin, said the Aubergine has brought in business for years.
“I guess I don’t quite understand the innuendo because I have one of those body parts and it doesn’t look like that and it’s not purple, so I’m not sure really how that came about. It’s kind of weird. So, it’s kind of comical that people think that,” Carney told 11 News.
Now, the merchants have since been told to take the art down. Both sculptures are supported through the Fund for Art in Ellicott City.
Both pieces of art were also discussed at last week’s meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission, which expressed concern about the art “detracting from the historic buildings.”
“History is really important. So, this is great artwork, but I guess it’s not historic enough for them,” said Ken McNaughton, an Ellicott City resident.
“This is great artwork, but I guess it’s not historic enough for them.”
Don Reuwer, who manages numerous Main Street properties as president of the Waverly Real Estate Group, helped gather hundreds of signatures to keep the sculptures.
“Unfortunately, the chairperson told me that they weren’t interested in the petitions that actually said that the merchants are only temporary, so they don’t matter. And frankly, that was just the straw that broke the camel’s back for me,” Reuwer told 11 News.
People are far from giving up on the eye-catching produce.
“I have one of those body parts and it doesn’t look like that … I’m not sure how that came about.”
“I feel like they fit in with the town. I mean, everyone likes them. We’re a community of business owners and people, and all of them seem to like it. So, I feel like we are the town also, not just the history. And we are now the history,” said Mark Johnston, an Ellicott City resident.
11 News reached out to the commission but did not receive an official response.
Without approval, the statues must be taken down. Those in support of art plan to appeal the decision, and are even willing to take the issue to circuit court.
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