Writings in stone and textiles exhibit spotlights stonecutters' achievements

Writings in stone and textiles
exhibit spotlights stonecutters' achievements

Finding work, building roads, and constructing important civic, religious, and private structures in cities like Rochester, Albany and Buffalo, itinerant stonecutters from Abruzzo, Italy helped create much of the distinctive stone architecture in the area today. Traveling from Italy to America during the diaspora of the last century, the stonecutters and their families carried on traditions passed down over the centuries.

By focusing on the links between these landscapes and memories, an exhibit opening June 1 becomes a tale of two countries.

Combining archival photographs of Medina sandstone quarries, pictures from the private collections of families and historical societies in New York state and Italy, and photos of vernacular architecture in Rochester and Abruzzo, the exhibit will also feature artifacts from central Italy - textile art and ceramics - as well as stonecutters' tools. A video documentary titled "The Road From Alfedena," based on the oral histories of descendants of stonecutters in western New York and Italy, will be shown as well. On Friday evening, June 1 at 6 p.m., an opening reception will take place in the Cobblestone Museum for this collaborative project under the direction of Christine Zinni which chronicles the migration and Italian stonecutters and their families from central Italy to western New York to work in the Medina Sandstone Quarries.

Once a booming center of trade in Medina sandstone, Albion was where many of the Alfedena stonecutters settled before moving on to Rochester, Detroit, Michigan and parts of Pennsylvania.

Photos show detailed work at St. Rocco's Church, Hulberton which was created by Alfedena

Following the reception on June 1, the exhibit will be open to the public during regular museum hours June 23 to July 20, Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays 1 to 5 p.m. The Cobblestone Museum is located on Routes 104 and 98 in Childs. This exhibit located in the basement of the Cobblestone Church is admission free.