PHOTOS: New sculpture unveiled at main entrance to Artpark

Dedication ceremony held for Julie Silver’s ‘Governed by Urges’

Community members, artists and elected leaders joined together Friday to celebrate a new installation at the foot of the South Fourth Street entrance to Artpark State Park.

“Governed by Urges” was created by artist Julie Silver and had been located at the Lewiston home of Fran and Marie Williams. A new pocket park was built to accommodate the bronze work, which was donated to the village and will now serve as a more fitting entry point to the performing and visual arts campus.

“Governed by Urges”

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“Julie Silver grew up in Lewiston, went to Lewiston-Porter, and spent years going to Artpark, where she began her passion for art and love of sculpting,” Mayor Anne Welch said. “She started her education in art at the Maryland Institute College of Art, and began her career as the director of the Casting Institute at the University at Buffalo, where she taught sculpture. She is an acclaimed national and international artist, and we are so pleased that her beautiful sculpture will now grace the entrance to Artpark.

“(Julie,) you are such a talented artist, and your sculpture will be viewed by thousands of people that go to Artpark every year. I know people are already stopping to see it and take photos of it.”

Mayor Anne Welch addresses the crowd – and is embraced by Julie Silver – at the dedication ceremony. Also joining in are Mark Mistretta and Dan Buttery.

Julie Silver

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Silver said, “I have always been extremely passionate about the act of creation. I began art making at a very young age, before I could even identify my explorations as ‘art.’ I grew up here in Lewiston at a time when the visual art scene at Artpark was thriving. I was surrounded by a constantly changing and inspiring group of contemporary artists.

“When I heard this sculpture was going to be here at the entrance to Artpark, I was blown away! Artpark shaped who I was as a child and gave me so many opportunities to learn and experience the language of artmaking. I did workshops and volunteered every chance I could, just to be around the creative energy of this special place as often as possible.

Silver further explained, “The title of this sculpture is ‘Governed by Urges.’ It’s about being swept away by your instincts and desires and following your creativity. The sculpture is meant to look like she is floating effortlessly, even though bronze is an extremely weighty material. The illusion of movement speaks to her ‘urges’ to pursue her creative passion and soar fiercely toward her dreams and visions, which is exactly what I learned to do here at Artpark.”

The Village of Lewiston, its Department of Public Works, and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation collaborated on moving and re-placing “Governed by Urges.” They worked with Mark Cerrone Inc. and “Lewiston Landing” local metal art fabricator Dan Buttery. Also pitching in was the Lewiston Beautification Commission, which paid for the site’s title plaque.

Welch said, “Over a year ago, Fran Williams generously donated a beautiful bronze sculpture from his backyard to the Village of Lewiston. All we had to do was to remove it from his backyard on Mountain View Drive, relocate and reinstall it to this site.

“Easy, right? No; not so easy.

“So, I had to figure out how we were going to get this 2,000-pound sculpture here. Well, George Churakos and Vince Cerrone from Mark Cerrone Inc. came to the rescue. Vince Cerrone, with his equipment, removed the sculpture, put it on Dan Buttery’s flatbed trailer, and drove it to the artist Julie Silver’s house until the site was ready.

“In the meantime, we met with New York State (Parks) Regional Director Mark Mistretta and his landscape engineer, who designed the plans for the site. Mark and his staff were instrumental in the landscaping of this new site for the sculpture. Under Mark’s direction, Jasper Reese and his crew transformed the entrance to Artpark. During the recent construction in Artpark, Mark was able to include the development of this site. The end result of their hard work is what you see today.

“Mark, thank you and your staff for everything. You created this beautiful site for the sculpture, and the new entrance to Artpark looks so impressive now.

“Vince, you were amazing moving this 2,000-pound sculpture. You made it look so easy – and I know it was not.”

Silver said, “I am deeply appreciative of Fran and Marie Williams for commissioning this sculpture so many years ago and for being longtime supporters of my artwork. Their generous donation of ‘Governed by Urges’ to the Village of Lewiston was the catalyst for this wonderful collaboration between New York State Parks, Artpark, the Village of Lewiston and countless other companies and individuals that donated their valuable time and resources.

“Thank you, Mark Mistretta and New York State Parks, for designing and executing this extraordinary landscape architecture that redefines the entrance to Artpark, as well as creates a beautiful and inviting environment for my sculpture. (The Fourth Street spot) went from an overgrown lot to a spectacular destination.”

“Thank you for the opportunity to be part of something so wonderful,” Mistretta said.

Welch with members of the Lewiston Beautification Commission.

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Welch said, “I want to thank Fran and Marie Williams for donating this beautiful sculpture. This is not the first time they have generously donated to our village. Their previous donation allowed the Garden Club to purchase new, black metal benches and a picnic table at Hennepin Park, which transformed the park to what it looks like today. Their generosity shows their love and pride for their community. I am sorry they were unable to join us here today.

“We all embarked on this project together, and it would not have been possible without their generosity and love for Lewiston. We are so lucky to have these people in our community, and I am forever grateful and pleased to call them my friends.”

“Governed by Urges” side view photo by artist Julie Silver.

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Silver said, “Powerful art appears effortless – and creating it is anything but. That illusion is one of the things that makes it so incredibly magical to experience! Creating beautiful art takes nothing less than all you have to give. It is a labor of love and a lifetime of dedication, and in this case a tremendous and well-coordinated collaborative effort.”