Sculptor Brings Life to City Park Glens Falls NY

Sculptor Brings Life to City Park


Nancy O'Brien Nancy O'Brien - nobrien@poststar.com miChelle Vara works to install her sculpture, "Life," in City Park in Glens Falls on July 1.

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GLENS FALLS - A small group of people gathered at the corner of Maple and Ridge streets on Thursday for a public unveiling of the first piece of sculpture in City Park, but instead of a traditional curtain or sheet to unveil, they watched as artist miChelle Vara and Chad Wilson slid the 1,000 pound metal sculpture off a trailer and onto the ground, and then onto two round concrete circles in the park.

"When I read in the paper that the sculpture would be unveiled at 2 o'clock, I expected a curtain or a sheet, but this is much more fun," said Chris Scoville, of Scoville Jewelers, who walked to the park to see the new piece.

Vara owns Ballard Road Art Studio Gallery in Wilton, and she approached the city about creating the sculpture about a year ago.

"I did the formal application to the council, and my idea was to begin a dialog with the city to have new sculptures in the park," Vara said. "I'd like to see rotating artists and rotating pieces in the park, but the first step is to expose Glens Falls to its first piece of public art."

Vara considers Glens Falls her hometown, even though she doesn't live here.

"I eat here. I shop here. All my friends are here," she said. "Glens Falls has no public art - art you can see anytime, with no fee - art that is accessible to everyone." She said studies have shown that communities with public art feel ‘culture elevated.'

"Public art increases revenues. It improves attitudes and increases visitors' interest," she said.

The sculpture is rusted metal, sort of like a girder that has been bent and twisted into a unique shape. Vara calls it "Life."

"All pieces of art should be interpreted by the viewer, but my own personal point of view is that life intertwines. There are patterns to life - ups and downs," she said. "I wanted to put this piece in the park first because it is the most easily accepted; people don't find it abrasive or obnoxious, and I didn't want to start with anything with a negative connotation."

"It's interesting, to say the least," said Glens Falls Mayor John "Jack" Diamond. "It complements the park nicely, and we're going to do more, but in a controlled manner." The city is forming a committee to organize a call to artists for new pieces of sculpture to be placed in the park, perhaps for a year at a time. Vara's "Life" will be in City Park through October.

Posted in Local on Thursday, July 1, 2010 5:08 pm Updated: 5:23 pm.
Tags: Glens Falls, City Park