In a recent op-ed published in the November 2026 issue of The Fairfax Independent, sculptor and George Mason University professor John von Bergen examines the uneasy relationship between public art, civic ambition, and bureaucratic decision-making.
Using Fairfax County’s $250,000 COVID memorial, Circles of Memory, as a case study, von Bergen questions how administrative oversight, questionable design choices, and an increasingly restrictive selection process can undermine the artistic and cultural significance of public sculpture. His critique raises broader questions about the role of public art and the importance of creative ambition, craftsmanship, and meaningful public engagement.
Read the full article, “Circles of Bureaucracy – How Fairfax Manufactures Public Art,” published in The Fairfax Independent, November 2026.