“Fish Sticks” sculpture showcases the work of community members at the Library Arts Center

COURTESY
NEWPORT — Over 70 community members came together to create a temporary community sculpture composed of colorful painted wooden fish at the Newport Farmers’ Market. This sculptural school of painted, wooden fish is currently installed on the front lawn of the Richards Free Library greeting people as they drive or walk down Main Street. This is the first community arts project of the summer facilitated by the Library Arts Center, with the partnership of SAU 43, the Newport Farmer’s Market and the Richards Free Library.

This sculpture was the idea of Newport artist Chris Scott, and the fish were painted by community members of all ages at the Newport Farmers Market on June 22. “It was amazing for me, a relative newcomer to Newport, to see so many people come to the Common to paint these wooden fish. I got to enjoy the imaginative power of a community coming together to create something awesome.”

Scott was blown away by the number of community members who were eager to participate. “We had 70 fish to paint and we actually ran out before the end of the market!” she said. SAU 43 Family and Community Coordinator Stacey Hammerlind partnered with the arts center on this project. “People working on their fish at the farmers’ market commented on how much fun it was and how great it was to make art as a community. It was a project that everyone could do — from preschoolers to seniors,” Hammerlind said. “The SAU is very excited to continue and deepen this collaboration with the Library Arts Center. We are looking forward to monthly ‘Family Art Nights’ next school year.”

Kate Luppold, executive director of the Library Arts Center said,“This is the first of what we hope to be many such community art projects to appear in our town in the coming months.”  This work is part of a greater vision and plan to bring the work of the Arts Center out into the community and to do this work in partnership with other organizations to amplify the results. The aim of this work is to engage the greater community in the act of creating art while also creating temporary, artistic installations around town.

This work is part of a larger “creative placemaking” initiative in Newport, Sullivan County, and statewide. The creative placemaking movement has gained lots of momentum in the national spotlight in the past decade, and aims to enhance communities and make places better through the arts and cultural activities. “Through this creative work we strive to enhance the community and economic well-being of our town and region,” said Luppold. “This is a lofty goal, but one that seems attainable with so much community engagement in our very first project,” she said. Other organizations throughout the region are engaging in such activities, and partnering together to bring the arts into the community in a bigger way. Luppold is excited to launch further projects that bring community members together to collaborate making art. “Momentum is building from this first project, ideas for future projects are coming in from community members, and plans are forming to bring those ideas to life. I can’t wait for opportunities to host other community art projects,” said Scott, “and it certainly seems the community can’t wait to take part in making them!”