If all goes according to plan, sculptor Bill Stewart may be creating a metal sculpture that will be a visual symbol of the history and present day use of the canal in the village of Brockport. It will be entitled "Gateway." Former Brockport Village Historian Bill Andrews approached board members at the regular monthly meeting on Monday, November 17 to let them know that an application has been made to the Arts Council of Rochester for the funding of this proposed sculpture, which would be placed in Harvester Park. The project will cost about $10,000 to fabricate and Andrews said if they are awarded a grant by the Arts Council for $3,000-$5,000, the remainder of the funds would be raised from private donors. Mr. Stewart is donating his artistic services to the village. The entire piece represents a gate, an entrance and exit east and west. The canal stones will physically connect the sculpture to the canal. The girder represents the locks and bridges, the wavy rod the water, the duck, goose, fish, turtle and rabbit are obvious symbols of wildlife indigenous to the area. The boat that will be placed on the sculpture is a symbol of the recreational and commercial use of the canal. The finished size of the sculpture will be six feet by eight feet by 12 feet high. "We would be very fortunate to have a work of this magnitude in Brockport," Mayor Josephine Matela said. Vice-mayor Mort Wexler echoed the mayor's sentiments, saying that, "Whatever Bill Stewart does would enhance the community." Andrews asked the board for their support of the application so he can move forward in the process. It was given unanimously. In addition to working on the sculpture application, Andrews has been busy getting Brockport's Main Street declared a historic district. It will be placed on the State Registry of Historic Places and could go on to be placed on the National Registry. "This is a win-win situation for Brockport," Andrews said. "It gives recognition to our Main Street but doesn't place any restrictions on the merchants and it may make some of the buildings eligible for grant money." "I'm excited about this designation and I know this has been a lot of work for you, Mr. Andrews," Matela said. "This will be just a great marketing tool for the community." |
