Sitting in a grove of trees and peering over a brick wall on Selden Street, are the Elders... ten foot tall clay creatures by Brockport artist Bill Stewart. These pieces were created as part of the 1989 series which resulted in the majestic five part cluster called "The Council" installed at the Monroe County International Airport. The pieces are both futuristic and ancient, primitive and sophisticated, and beg us to examine man's relationship to his world.
Water Dance II on Gibbs Street between Townhouse and Eastman Dorm, was created by John Nihart. John has a Masters Degree in Sculpture from the University of Buffalo and works full time as a trade show designer. The piece is fabricated steel (cut from flat sheets and welded) and painted. Its title comes from the designs that appear from "drawing with a stick on water" and the round "head" looks like a refracted image, half submerged and distorted from water.
The small bronze angel by Dexter Benedict, is installed in front of 164 Gibbs Street. Dexter operates a foundry near Penn Yan where he does castings regularly for other artists as well as his own work (one of the few bronze foundries in Upstate). This beautiful little statue gets its name from Shakespeare's description of the seven stages of man, the seventh stage when man has "become lean, spectacles on nose and pouch on side - his big manly voice turning again toward childish treble, pipes and whistles in his sound." Through a bequest from Madge Harle, a former resident, we are able to purchase this piece for Grove Place.
Josephine Baker Bench sits at the corner of Gibbs and University. The piece is the work of Paul Knoblauch who graduated from R.I.T. and works full time for Albert Paley. It is painted steel, fabricated and forged, with teak slat seat, and is named for the glamorous African-American entertainer/show girl who became the toast of Paris during the 40's and 50's. The bench is rich and sensuous with just a hint of glitz.
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Bette Midler Bench is another Paul Knoblauch piece and sits on the West side of Gibbs Street. It is forged (steel bent and formed with heat), painted, with a teak slat seat. The title comes from Midler's early showgirl days when she often came on-stage in outrageous costumes including that of a mermaid. (Fish underneath the bench hold up the ocean waves and seaweed arms.) It's purely fun.
Dancers stands at the back of the intimate interior courtyard of 10 Selden Street, north side of Selden Street. Created by Peter Macon, this sculpture was purchased by the neighbours and installed in 1989, one of the first public sculptures in Grove Place. This piece was laser cut from a flat sheet of CorTen steel, then bent into its lyrical shape.
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Lawn Mower Trellis may be covered by growing Morning Glories someday during the summer. The piece installed in mid-block on Selden Street is the work of Peter Keenan and is pure whimsy constructed from found objects.
Mask is one of two pieces in the neighborhood by famed Brockport artist, Bill Stewart. It's made of terra cotta with expressionistic dashes of glaze color.
Gentle Woman is raised copper. The rough outline was cut from flat sheet, turned upside down on a bed (usually sand) and hammered until the relief comes into shape. Leonard Urso (the creator) holds a Master's Degree in Sculpture and is head of the metal department at R.I.T. The piece is hung from the wall at 13 Selden. In spite of its name, Leonard's understated figures have a decidedly cobra shape to them. You can draw your own conclusions.
A fabricated and painted steel sculpture on Windsor Street. Tarrant Clements (the artist) has a Master's Degree from R.I.T., has taught both drawing and clay but turned exclusively to metal 10 years ago. This piece has an unusual combination of colors - the flat portion almost looks like it could be a flag and changes slightly from one side to the other.
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August 07, 2001 03:27 AM
