SCULPTURES AND INSTALLATIONS IN PAWTUCKET
The City of Pawtucket's commitment to the arts can be visually documented by the number of sculptural that exist in the city. Some of these projects have been supported by the Pawtucket Arts Festival, while others have had the support of the City of Pawtucket, the Pawtucket Foundation, veterans groups and the Pawtucket business community.
Conocular by William Martin
Dedicated in 2001, Conocular was displayed on Main Street in front of the Blackstone Valley Visitor Center until September, 2011, when it was relocated to the side of the building on High Street. The work was sponsored by the Narragansett Electric Company, Rhode Island Commission on the Arts, and the Pawtucket Arts Festival. The construction of a base for its relocation was supported by the City of Pawtucket and the Pawtucket Redevelopment Agency.
William Martin received a BFA from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and a MFA from Louisiana State University. In addition to the more typical mediums of wood and steel he also works in blacksmithing and iron casting. His work has been included in numerous national exhibitions and collections. A few noteworthy examples would include DeCordova Sculpture Park, Convergence Outdoor Sculpture in Providence RI, Indiana State University, New Orleans Hilton Riverside Paul Buckley Collection, and The Fidelity Investment Collection. Martin teaches sculpture at Rhode Island College.
Eiffel Tower by Donald Gerola
Located in Slater Park, Eiffel Tower was dedicated in 2006. It was sponsored by the Pawtucket Arts Festival Executive Committee.
Weaving the Blackstone by Donald Gerola
Weaving the Blackstone (2011) is an installation of thousands of feet of colorful cords stretched across the Blackstone River next to the historic Slater Mill. Sponsored by the Pawtucket Arts Festival and Schofield Printing, the installation references the textile industry of the area.
Donald Gerola studied physics at the University of Dayton, Ohio, then began his art career as a muralist before moving on to steel sculptures. Many of his sculptures involve movement facilitated by wind or water. Gerola has work in numerous sculpture collections throughout the northeast including the Town of Hyannis, MA, the Cape Cod Art Association, the Springfield (MA) Art Museum, and Sussex County Community College, Newton, NJ. Click here to visit Donald Gerola's website.
More to come....