HAVERHILL — For the last three months, they have been catching people's attention all around the city. Giant fiberglass sculptures of women's old-fashioned, high-top shoes adorned Haverhill.
The sculptures honor Haverhill's shoe manufacturing past. Vividly painted scenes on each shoe showcased the city's creative community and helped promote tourism.
They dotted the landscape and brought vibrancy wherever they stood, like in Washington Square, outside Trinity Episcopal Church on Winter Street, and at the edge of Central Plaza. Maps were distributed, leading people to each shoe. Postcards were mailed inviting people to visit Haverhill and see the shoes. So many cards were sent that it may set a new world record.
Professional artists, art teachers and their students came forth with various designs to paint on the shoes. They include the whimsical "Merry Mac, Haverhill's Rollicking River Monster," and the historical "Phoenix, 1882," which recalls the worst fire in Haverhill's history.
Tomorrow night at Bradford Country Club, the 14 statues, each about 6 feet tall, will be on the auction block to support Haverhill public art projects, community nonprofit groups and cultural organizations. The statues are at the center of the Soles of Haverhill Shoe-la-Bration.
There is no telling who the winning bidders will be, or where they will take the shoes.
Leota Sarrette, a member of the Soles of Haverhill Committee of the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce, hopes that some of the shoes will stay here, especially those symbolizing Haverhill's history, such as "Pentucket, Place by the Winding River," which recalls the name given to the area by Native Americans and which carries images of Winnekenni Castle and the Merrimack River.
At a cocktail party at Buttonwoods Museum last weekend to highlight the shoes, people expressed interest in bidding and possibly taking their shoes far from the community that embraced them.
"I'm glad there will be people bidding on the shoes and that nonprofits and the artists will benefit from their sale," Sarrette said. "But I will be sad to see them leave."
Sarrette expects fierce bidding on some of the shoes, especially one designed and autographed by shoe designer Stuart Weitzman, whose father once operated a shoe factory on Essex Street in Haverhill.
Called "A Weitzman Family Affair, Three Generations," the Swarovski Crystal-embellished sculpture was done by artist Elizabeth Persing to benefit the Haverhill Chamber of Commerce's Community, Art, and Education Foundation.
"This shoe could go to a collector or an art museum," Sarrette said.
Jeannie Stewart of Andover wants "Merry Mac,'' which was created by her daughter Liz Persing of Haverhill, to stay in Haverhill. It shows a monster inhabiting the Merrimack River.
"The idea of all the shoes being sold to people from who-knows-where makes me sad," Stewart said. "Loch Ness has its own monster, Nessie, and Lake Champlain has its Champ. Now Haverhill has Merry Mac."
Stewart said her family and the family of her daughter's husband have raised a "substantial" amount of money and are looking to join with others in saving Merry Mac.
"I contacted the chamber (of commerce) and they said a number of people may be interested in contributing something," Stewart said. "I'm also hoping that children, including those who helped paint Merry Mac, will get involved. Even if they can give a quarter, it can help."
Merry Mac's sale will help the Haverhill Foundation for Excellence in Education, which funds creative educational programs in Haverhill classrooms. Students in the after-school Discovery Club at Silver Hill Horace Mann School helped Persing paint Merry Mac.
Artist Mimi Johnson's creation, "Phoenix, 1882," recalls the great fire of 1882 and how like the Phoenix, a bird from Egyptian mythology, it, too, rose from its ashes. Its sale will benefit the Haverhill Firefighting Museum.
Sharon Welch, an art instructor at Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School, created "Sole Sisters" for Girls Inc. in Haverhill. Welch's students helped.
Soles of Haverhill member Jill Schoenberg of Haverhill said the Shoe-la-Bration reached all ages and brought the community together in a fun event that also had the noble goal of raising money for good causes.
"Everybody talked about them and everyone had their favorite shoe," Schoenberg said. "The goal is to make a lot of money for the charities, and to have a community event that would not offend a single person. It got people talking and it's been fun."
A silent auction will be held prior to a dinner and live auction led by auctioneer Tim Milks of Tennessee. The silent auction features a variety of items, including gift certificates for goods and services from: restaurants; salons; and recreational, health and fitness venues; as well as two elegant Stuart Weitzman handbags, an African Safari for two, weekend getaways, and rounds of golf for four.
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What: Shoe-la-Bration Gala Auction
When: Saturday, 6:30 p.m.
Where: Bradford Country Club, 201 Chadwick Road, Bradford
Tickets: $60 each. Table for eight is $480.
NOTE: Tickets and pre-bidding information are available by calling Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce at 978-373-5663.
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