Mary Phillips,an American graduate with a degree in classical languages from the University of Pittsburgh wrote to the British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles (www.parthenon.uk) expressing her support for the cause and outlining her plans to travel to London to make her stand. On Sunday, November 22nd, from 11 am to 1 pm, Mary Phillips made her stand at the British Museum dressed as a caryatid. Despite the heavy rain downpour, Mary became the first attraction to the Sunday visitors as she stood inside the grounds of the British Museum. Many took photos of her, others waved and gave her a thumbs up as they ran into the Museum and out of the rain. This was Mary’s first visit to London and it became a memorable one.
Neil MacGregor, director of the British Museum, stopped by briefly to have a look at Mary’s peaceful protest and declared it 'an elegant gesture'. Then at 1 pm, English student and Plinthian, Sofkas Smales joined Mary for a photograph.
Mary Phillips will be travelling to Athens on Tuesday 24 November. During her five day stay in Greece’s capital she will be revisiting the new Acropolis Museum (www.theacropolismuseum.com). Mary feels that the 98% of the surviving Parthenon Sculptures currently split between Athens and London, deserve to be reunited in Athens. She commented “the return of the Marbles would be a British cultural gesture of singular poignancy.”
Issued on behalf of the British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles by Marlen Taffarello, 0208 905 6703 or 07789533791 and marlen@fcdcom.co.uk
1.On 12 September 2009 the Fourth Plinth in the north west of Trafalgar Square, home to Antony Gormley's Project “One & Other”, was occupied by Sofka Smales. Nineteen year old Sofka chose to promote the return of the Parthenon Marbles to their birth place. “I feel really passionate about this”, explained Sofka, a student of Criticism, Communication and Curation at London’s Central St. Martins College. “I have always felt that the Parthenon Marbles should rightly be returned to their country of origin. Especially now, that a first class museum has been built to house them.”
2. Mary Phillips original email to the BCRPM From: Mary Phillips [mailto:maryphillips412@gmail.com] Sent: 07 October 2009 03:44 To: info@parthenonuk.com Subject: November at the British Museum Dear British Committee for the Unification of the Parthenon Marbles, First off, let me express my gratitude for your continued efforts to correct what I believe is an unfortunate and ongoing misunderstanding. I am the American daughter of a Greek immigrant, and have the opportunity to travel to London for the first time this coming November. I have recently visited the awe-inspiring Acropolis Museum in Athens, and have seen for myself how worthy a place it is to receive back its marbles. That said I would like to stage a one-woman, silent, non-violent request for the marbles' at the British Museum, dressed up as a Caryatid. If you are able to meet with me during my stay in London, that would be great. Thank you again for the work you do. Best, Mary Phillips
3. The BRCPM (British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles) are a group of British people who having considered the case for the reunification of the Parthenon Marbles strongly support it and campaign to achieve it. “In the debate over the London sculptures from the Parthenon, it has been clear to many British people for some years what would be the right action to take. The difference now is that the Acropolis Museum makes the rightness of that response so obvious and so natural to the world at large. Consequently, the Board of Trustees and the Director are faced with a difficult choice between two stark alternatives: either to act with courage and decisiveness, swallow their pride and begin talking to the Greek representatives as equals; or to lay up decades of stress and embarrassment for their successors.” BCRPM
Find out more about what you can do to reunite the Parthenon Marbles: visit www.parthenonuk.com or for more information about the Parthenon Sculptures debate also visit the website of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture http://www.culture.gr
