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Renovations
recently completed in an open-air courtyard at Irondequoit
High School provided the opportunity for an exciting and
unique public art project. As the result of converting the
high school’s National Honor Society Courtyard into
a new, state-of-the-art library, all 200+ vintage wood windows
that surrounded the courtyard for 52 years were removed.
Instead of heading to a landfill, they have been reborn
as The Windows Project. The West Irondequoit Foundation
in cooperation with the Arts & Cultural Council for
Greater Rochester is organizing this unusual project.
The
Windows Project has engaged 84 artists and 66 sponsors to
be a part of this community endeavor. Artists from the Rochester
area, and as far away as Virginia, Washington, Pennsylvania,
Toronto, and Ottawa, are creating works of art from the
windows in a wide variety of media: watercolor, acrylic
and oil painting, collage, stained glass and glass mosaic,
textiles, clay, carved wood, folk art, photography, glass
painting and pastels. The largest single proposal, “Cosmic
Windows” comprises 11 large, six-pane windows containing
66 translucent cosmic images, many of which were taken with
the Hubble Space Telescope. “Cosmic Windows”
is being exhibited inn the lobby area at the Rochester Museum
and Science Center during the summer and fall. Watch the
Windows Project website for special programs related to
this exhibit.
Approved
proposals were exhibited at an Artists' Reception on February
1, 2003 where sponsors selected window designs, and the
public was invited to view the proposals. Business, individual
and organization sponsors partnered with an artist on each
window for a sponsor fee of $850, with $600 going to the
artist and $250 to the Foundation. A few artists have chosen
to create a window without a sponsor and will be donating
50% of the sale price received at auction to the Foundation.
The Windows Project website devotes a page to each window
containing: profiles of the artist and sponsor and links
to their websites, the artist’s proposal and, finally,
the finished window.
June
through October of 2003 will find beautiful windows displayed
all over the community, at businesses, town buildings, schools,
malls, libraries and select galleries. A special pullout
section in the May 28 Messenger Post Newspapers lists
each window with its artist and sponsor and includes a map
of display locations. The project’s website contains
an updated list of all window locations.
Finally,
on November 1, 2003, the Windows Project culminates with
an exhibit of all windows at St. Ann's Community, 1550 Portland
Avenue. Spectators will not only have the opportunity to
see all the windows in one place, they will be able to cast
their vote for their favorite. On November 8, the Foundation,
with additional support from Rochester General Hospital,
will host a live gala auction where windows will be sold
by one of the area’s premiere auctioneers, Harris
Wilcox. This third generation auction house handled the
“Horses On Parade” auction as well as charity
art auctions for Syracuse and Batavia. With over 60 years
of auction experience, the Harris organization promises
a lively evening of bidding and excitement as 86 transformed
windows go out in the community for their “second
life!"
The
Windows Project benefits the West Irondequoit Foundation
with part of the proceeds being given to the Arts &
Cultural Council for Greater Rochester to support their
important work in our community.
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Denise
LaRossa, co-chair
Barbara James, co-chair
Committee Chairs:
PR/Publicity: Teresa Werth
Exhibit/Auction: Margaret Burns
Artistic: Holly Garver
Sandi Babcock
Diane Bosco
Ellen Brannin
Ann Burns
David Burns
Barbara Carlson
Debbie Carter
Anne Casey
Russ Clair
Debbie Cleary
Ava Conchelos
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Carol Crumlish-Fridd
Kathy DeMott
Bob Dickson
Bill Dillon
Bob Farr
Patty Fowler
Daniel Gallis
Miriam Ganze
Brian Hartman
Patricia Hartman
Vandy Humphrey
Mike James
Mike Kerwin
Bob Klein
Fred Lapple
Bob LaRossa
Philip Lentini
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Kathy Mannix
Robert Marketell
Rob Matuska
Chuck Perreaud
Chris Quinlan
Mat Quinlan
Tammy Reddinger
Sharon Ricci
Ann Smahol
Bruce VanHise
Mary Vernetti
Rita Wachter
Don Werth
Kitty White
Craig Wilson
Mary Lou Wilson |
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 Proceeds
All proceeds will benefit the West Irondequoit Foundation,
with a portion going to the Arts and Cultural Council for
Greater Rochester to benefit area artists and arts organizations.
Goals
The Windows Project will raise money for the West Irondequoit
Foundation and the Arts and Cultural Council while showcasing
accomplished artists from the Rochester area. It will build
community spirit and pride while calling attention to local
businesses and organizations and to a town that many artists
call home.
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What
is the West Irondequoit Foundation?
What
is the Arts and Cultural Council for Greater Rochester?
What
are people saying about The Windows Project?
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