Village of Ossining's Bicentennial Sculpture Exhibit Opens Today

The cornerstone of the "Ossining in 3D" bicentennial celebration, a large-scale, 25-piece outdoor sculpture exhibit will soon weave through the Village of Ossining's historic buildings and downtown waterfront area. The exhibit will be open to the public from today, May 5, 2013 through October 26, 2013, with a special meet-the-artist reception on Sunday, May 5. The free reception, held from 3:00 - 5:00pm at the Village of Ossining Municipal Building, will include hors d'oeuvres, refreshments and a tour of the sculptures.

The six-month juried exhibition will provide direct and free access to art for thousands of residents and visitors. The length of the sculpture walk is approximately 1.5 miles with on and off-street parking also available. Maps can be picked up at the Village of Ossining Municipal Building at the Clerk's and Village Manager's office, the Community Center, the Ossining Public Library, and will be available at each sculpture location. Maps are also available online at http://www.villageofossining.org and http://www.celebrateossining.com.

"As one of the oldest historic villages on the Hudson River, Ossining is filled with a number of architectural gems," said George R. Camp, Bicentennial Committee Chairman. "The sculpture exhibit enhances our Village's existing beauty, natural and manmade, with new works of art that are also rich in meaning."

Sculptors come from across the northeast and beyond, including three artists local to Westchester.

Elizabeth Barksdale's sculpture, "In a Sea of Grass," uses wood, steel and corrugated plastic roofing to explore the energy of a fluid line. Barksdale, a Mahopac resident, loves to be inside of her pieces as she makes them. "This love inspires me to create works people can walk around inside of," she said. "Giving into whimsy, I gave my line a head, allowing it to become a sea serpent undulating through a sea of grass. I have been delighted to see little children running through the body's large open arcs, adding their own energy to the work."

In 2000, after a 40-year career in interior architectural design, Scarsdale artist Jerome Harris Parmet changed directions to study and to produce steel sculpture, which has been a life long ambition. "I want my art to speak for itself from my feelings to the viewer's emotions," Parmet said.

Some of the exhibiting sculptors including local Crompond resident Sarah Haviland used Ossining as their point of inspiration. Haviland's work, "Crossroads Aerie," was created with equal parts labor and vision, evoking Ossining's past and future by combining natural and architectural forms in monumental mesh. The sculpture's base echoes the landmark aqueduct bridge, while the figure of a nesting eagle perches on top, watching over the Hudson River.

"Like the historic double-arch crossing, the image of the eagle harks back to the area's early history and winged memorial designs," said Haviland. "The iconic bird recalls national and multicultural myths, contemporary environmental treasures, and the human desire to fly. But the steel mesh material updates a classical image, suggesting human constructions like cages, nets, and river borders; while rocks and organic forms connect to the natural world and the environment revived."

The Village of Ossining's Bicentennial Celebration is made possible with major support from Ginsburg Development Companies in collaboration with the Ossining Arts Council, Ossining Historical Society and the County of Westchester. Significant additional funding has been provided by General Electric Company, Emigrant Bank, Avalon Bay, Cedar Manor, Inc., Dorsey Funeral Home, Open Door Family Medical Center, Inc., Hudson Valley Bank, The Bethel Methodist Home, Solomon Organization, Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services, Inc., Mahopac National Bank and Club Fit.

The Village of Ossining Municipal Building is located at 16 Croton Avenue, Ossining, NY. For more information on the Sculpture Exhibit Opening Reception or other upcoming events, visit http://www.villageofossining.org or contact the Village Manager's Office at 914-941-3554.

About the Village of Ossining On April 2, 1813, the Village of Ossining became the first incorporated village in Westchester County to be state-chartered. Today, Ossining is a culturally diverse, affordable place to live, rich in both history and natural beauty. Approximately 24,000 people reside in the three square miles of this historic Village on the Hudson River, which boasts extensive shopping, recreational programs, educational enrichment opportunities, and community services. Ossining's role in New York's heritage has been recognized by its inclusion, as one of only 14 areas, in an Urban Cultural Park System designed to attract visitors to the State. With its Bicentennial anniversary in 2013, the Village of Ossining has launched "Ossining in 3D," a yearlong celebration of events designed to honor the Village's past while embracing its future. Visit http://www.villageofossining.org for more information.