Beautification of Brockport is on the agenda as members of the Brockport Arts and Aesthetics committee pull together pieces of art for their Stone Soup Auction. "The auction idea was brought up as a way to be able to pay for a Bill Stewart sculpture," project director Lori Skoog said. The committee hopes to raise $10,000 to pay for the materials necessary for Stewart to build a 12-foot tall sculpture that will sit near the village's canalside visitor center. Stewart's sculptures greet visitors to the Rochester International Airport and the committee hopes that soon one of his "colorful and whimsical" works of art will greet visitors to the village. The stone soup idea comes from the idea that if everyone contributes just a little to the pot, it will grow enough to raise the funds needed for this project, Skoog said. "We have had a fantastic response from the community. So far we've had more than 50 pieces of artwork donated." Committee members had also approached local village and town officials to see if they wanted to try their hands at crafting an item to be auctioned off at the event. The sculpture design, Skoog said, is still in its conceptual phase. "Construction will depend on what money comes in." Stewart said he has lived in the community for more than 30 year and felt designing and constructing the sculpture was a way to give something back. "I have a lot of good friends in the community and I like the idea of being able to give this back to the village," he said. "The design is not in concrete yet, the images I am working with are samples of what could be done depending on how much money is raised at the auction." Jeff Jubenville, a Carlton resident, who has worked for more than 18 years with renowned metal sculptor Albert Paley, will work as the metalsmith with Stewart on this project. "I like the long range plan the committee has for working to involve local artists," he said. "The sculpture will give character to the community." Also available at the auction will be a limited edition mug with the stone soup logo which will be signed by Stewart. Contributions to the auction include works by Brockport's professional artists Jappie King Black, Dianne Hickerson, Tom Markusen, Mirko Pylyshenko, Jack Wolsky and Helen Smagorinsky. Also, Louis Perticone, owner of Artisan Works in Rochester, is contributing 30 pieces from the Elizabeth Collection. Auction items will be welcomed until September 1. Skoog said the committee is also seeking cash donations for the project. The auction is the second endeavor for the Arts and Aesthetics committee - which is under the umbrella of Walk! Bike! Brockport! Their most recent fundraiser was the sale of park benches that have recently been placed throughout the village. The auction is scheduled for September 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the Brockport High School. |
