Cultural Festival - all around Franklin on Saturday (photo essay)

The Town Common was set up for Kevin T Wolfe Band to play some good rock and roll.

Kevin T Wolfe Band

and the community mural

the community mural

 and art projects

Sue Sheridan and Tina Guarino happily getting into their art work

and the sale of the empty bowls for the Food Pantry

empty bowls for sale, some food safe

Meanwhile at the Library, kids were drumming

Tony Fonseca leads the all hands drumming workshop

At the Sculpture Park, dancers moved elegantly among the sculptures

dancers by the 'imagine' bench

dancers at the two faces

and at the Methodist Church there were robots!

robot on display

robot on display 1

Alas, the dancers won't be at the Sculpture Park nor the drummers at the Library. The music can be found at THE BLACK BOX with the Circle of Friends stage. The "Taste of Franklin" will also be there. The robots return to the Methodist Church and more stuff will be happening at the Historical Museum.

For more on Sunday schedule, check here

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/08/franklin-cultural-festival-schedule.html

Franklin Cultural Festival - Saturday Schedule

Saturday, August 1

Performances 

on The Town Common 

12:00 PM to 2:00 PM - Kevin T. Wolfe Band 

Kevin T Wolfe band to perform on the Town Common

2:30 PM to 3:00 PM - Dean College and The Star Players Massachusetts, preview The Wiz 

 

a preview of The Wiz will be shared at 2:30 on the Town Common

The Franklin Library 

1:00 PM - All Hands Drumming

all hand's drumming means the audience gets to participate

The Sculpture Park 

12:00 PM - Dean College Palladino School of Dance and Franklin Art Center

rehearsal near Ursus, the great bear sculpture

1:00 PM - Dean College Palladino School of Dance and Franklin Art Center

THE BLACK BOX 

4:00 PM - School House Rock (ticket purchase required)

FSPA performs School House Rock at THE BLACK BOX (ticket purchase required)

7:30 PM - FPAC: One Acts

Events 

on The Town Common 

12:00 PM to 4:00 PM - Watercolor Painting  and Mural Painting for adults and children, FAA

12:00 PM to 4:00 PM - Fashion design with newspaper and dance for children and adults: FAA and Dean College

Franklin Methodist Church 

-- FAA Art and Photography and Robots and Magical Machines

Franklin Cultural Festival - Arts Happen Here

Schedule subject to change, any changes will be updated as soon as known


Check the webpage for any updates (especially in case of weather)

http://www.franklinsculturalfestival.org/

"As If It Were Already Here”

I have been traveling into Boston regularly and took the time to walk by the new aerial sculpture.

taken from just at the edge of the sculpture, every where you stand you get a different view

From the Boston Innovation page I find and share:

The Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy announced that Janet Echelman has named her aerial sculpture, currently sitting pretty above the park, "As If It Were Already Here” in reference to Boston's industrial past. The industriousness that it took for Echelman to pull off the art installation though is aptly reflected in the statistics. 

According to the Greenway Conservancy:

• The sculpture includes over 100 miles of rope

• There are over half a million knots (~542,500)

• The sculpture weighs approximately 1 ton

• The sculpture can exert over 100 tons of force

• Longest span is 600 ft

• The sculpture is 365 ft at its highest point

• Projected plan area of the sculpture is 20,250 sq. ft. or almost half an acre

• Illuminated by 32 individually programmed LED lights

The time lapse video of the effort to put it up is impressive!




http://bostinno.streetwise.co/2015/05/06/greenway-art-boston-time-lapse-video-of-aerial-art-sculpture/

Sculpture Park - Official Opening

The Sculpture Park was officially opened on Wednesday with a gathering of Town officials, key sponsors and about 50 people on a sunny day.

The individual art pieces now have name plates depicting the title of the piece and the artist. This was good to find. I now know that 'the bear' has a name: Ursus.

Town Administrator Jeff Nutting

Town Administrator Jeff Nutting welcomed everyone and gave thanks to Adrianna Kelly who had the original vision for the park. Linda and Ian Kabat of the Franklin Art Center who took over leadership of the project when Adrianna left Franklin. The DPW who did the work. The Franklin Cultural Council who provides some funding. Rep Jeff Roy who obtained some state money for lighting in the park. And to all the artists and volunteers who helped to make this happen.

Town Council Chairperson Bob Vallee

Rep Jeff Roy

Linda and Ian Kabat, Franklin Art Center

butterfly made of a clothes pin and plastic

Lollipop field created by students at Franklin Art Center

landscaping was completed

after the brief remarks, many of the group walked around the park

The brochure handed out to participants of the opening can be found here:




As there may be some who don't know where the Sculpture Park is located. It is on Panther Way next to the Police Station. For those long time Franklinites, it was the location of the old town pool.


View Larger Map

Franklin Sculpture Park (video)

A recent sunny summer Saturday I talk a walk through the Franklin Sculpture Park to record this video.




The formal ribbon cutting ceremony to open the park will be held Wednesday, Aug 27th at 5:00 PM

(Note: I did say the ribbon cutting is at 4:00 the second time I mention it as the video comes to a close. That is an error.

8/18/14 - someone else with sharp ears caught me saying it is next to the 'fire' station instead of the police station. How that happens, I have no idea! Thanks for the catch!)


A posting from July with links to earlier posts on the Sculpture Park
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/07/more-art-at-sculpture-park.html

more art at the Sculpture Park

The Sculpture Park is getting ready to open officially in August. A new piece was installed this week with two more pieces scheduled to be installed before the opening. Separate but related construction is underway to put in the sidewalk along Panther Way. The sidewalk is being funded as part of the new high school but will also help those looking to visit the Sculpture Park.

The Sculpture Park sign also appeared this week

new Sculpture Park sign

There was a Police alert on Wednesday:

"The Franklin Police Department has an artist amongst the ranks! 

Lieutenant Mark Manocchio recently completed this painted steel sculpture, which has been installed in the new Franklin Sculpture Park, off of Edward’s Street. (Panther Way) 

Mrs. Rea’s third grade students, at the Keller-Sullivan School, helped out and painted each flower."

Mandy's Flower Garden

sidewalk construction on Panther Way

a rain garden to help with drainage

a 'pull out' section along Panther Way at the Sculpture Park

For those who bought a brick to help raise money for the Sculpture Park, the bricks are now laid out on the walkway to the park.

some of the bricks

some more of the bricks

Related posts on the development of the Sculpture Park

Sep 2013 - http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/09/sculpture-park-update.html

Nov 2013 - http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/11/sculpture-park-november-update-video.html

Mar 2014 - http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/03/sculpture-park-in-snow.html

Franklin Walk - Saturday, Mar 29

I did have some company for the walk Saturday morning (thank you!) and hopefully will have some more as the public walk and continues next month. The weather cooperated nicely for the walk which started on the Town Common at 8:30 AM and finished there about an hour later.

tree lined walkway on the Town Common

We started from the bandstand on the Common and walked by the Senior Center, Oak St/Horace Mann complex, between the new and current high school, down Panther Way to the Sculpture Park and then reversed the route to return.

bandstand on Franklin Town Common

About 2.5 miles in just under an hour. Conversation along the way with stops for photos here and there.

wrought iron flowers

 One of the flowers has fallen off this work. It doesn't appear to be malicious but rather the results of a poor welding connection. The snow and wind this winter apparently loosened it.

I call this one 'five fingers'

I am curious to find out what the official name is for this piece (above).

railing shadows

the fence railing along the edge of the wall at the former town pool castes its shadow in the morning sun.

2 faced, or split personality?

 When I was last at the park, the white of this piece against the snow was impressive. The white against the winter foliage color is stark.

the bear rages on

Conversation piece: is he raging for joy or frustration/anger? I think it is for joy!

pond reflection

 Completing the loop around the sculpture park you come upon more pond reflections.

If you haven't been to the Sculpture Park yet, I would encourage you to stop by sometime. On Panther Way just before the Police Station. There is parking and the loop through the park is a brief and easy walk. I'd estimate about a quarter of a mile.

I'll schedule another Franklin Walk and Talk for April. We'll check the weather to see which Saturday seems most likely to provide some good weather.

Join me for a walk this Saturday

Join me for a walk and talk this Saturday. 

We'll meet at the Town Common bandstand, walk by the high school, to the Sculpture Park and return the same way. 

The total distance should be less than 3 miles at a casual conversational pace. 

Bring your camera!

bandstand on the Franklin Town Common

You can reply to the Facebook event here or send me an email (shersteve at gmail dot com)




When - Saturday, March 29th at 8:30am
Meet at the bandstand on the Town Common

Sculpture Park in the snow

I extended my walk on Saturday to pay a visit to the Sculpture Park. The morning sun and the white snow would provide a nice setting for some good photos. The paths have not been cleared but the snow was hard enough to walk on top of so getting about was okay. The setting was really nice and the photos, well - you can tell me if they are good.

Split personality or two faced liar?

face side view

This is quite colorful in the snow

I know why he is raging. He wants to get out of the snow!

The bear's rage can be heard by the face!

footsteps on the bridge

delicate wrought iron

delicate wrought iron casting shadows

Oh, yes I can. Can you?

Where is the sculpture park?
On Panther Way just before you get to the Police Station and the Pirelli Ice Rink

Franklin Sculpture Park - The Bear! (video)

A quick 4 minute walk through to highlight the newest piece added to the Sculpture Park. Hopefully this will be enough of a tease to get you out to the park to enjoy all the pieces.





You can contribute to the Sculpture Park  through the Franklin Art Center website
http://franklinartcenter.com/park.html


Additional posts watching the development of the Sculpture Park can be viewed here

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/11/sculpture-park-november-update-video.html

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/10/franklin-sculpture-park-updated-video.html

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/10/sculpture-park-update.html

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/09/a-walk-through-sculpture-park.html

Sculpture Park - November Update (video)

I got out to the Sculpture Park this past weekend to check out the new piece that has been installed. Come along with me for about a 6 minute walk in the park.



Where is the Sculpture Park?
On Panther Way, next to the Franklin Police Station.

Public Art - Portland, ME

I did a bunch of walking in Portland, ME this weekend and was pleased to see some public art in the city. Along the waterfront in one of the main tourist sections (Commercial St) and then in the Eastern Promenade there were several pieces on display and the photos are shown here. There are other pieces located through out the city in addition to many monuments.

public art - eastern promenade

public art 2 -  eastern promenade

public art 3 - eastern promenade

Armillary - Portland, ME

Armillary 2000 - Portland, ME

For additional information on this piece you can visit the Public Art Portland webpage
http://www.publicartportland.org/project/untitled-armillary/


Unfortunately, the three pieces from the Eastern Promenade are not available on this webpage.
Portland did put together a "Master Plan" for the Eastern Promenade and you can find that here
http://www.portlandmaine.gov/planning/epmp.pdf