By Kate Hill

Staff Writer

This month, Stone Quarry Hill Art Park introduced “Filipendulous,” an interactive sculpture that represents personal connection during times of isolation.

Created by high school students Skylar Dannan (10th grade), Meseret Stevens (9th grade) and Morgan Schaffer (10th grade), the work features six wooden posts connected by nylon rope. The posts are positioned six feet apart to represent the current social distancing standards, and each one is decorated to represent a different quarantine coping mechanism.

The installation invites people to connect with each other by adding to the sculpture using the available notecards, writing utensils and hanging clips.

Visitors are invited to inscribe a notecard with a message, a quarantine story, something about themselves, a drawing, a quote, a link to a playlist, or even their name, phone number, email, or social media information. Notecards can then be placed into a Ziplock bag and clipped onto the rope.

“The idea was a team effort, but [it stemmed] from a place of feeling isolated and wanting to form a better sense of community,” Dannan said. “I thought of putting up mini statues and connecting them with wires to represent staying connected in quarantine; then I thought of the whole cards aspect and we got really excited. Morgan proposed we put them six feet apart, and the whole vision started coming together.”

The word “filipendulous” means hanging precariously, usually by a single thread.

According to the artists’ statement on the SQHAP website, the sculpture’s title not only references the hanging notecards, but it also evokes the deeper theme of confusion in modern society and a global pandemic.

“It can often feel like we are hanging by a thread, but our hope is that small projects like ours can help people, even just a little bit, to feel more connected and grounded, bringing light to this situation through art and community,” the statement says.

Schaffer said she hopes the sculpture will encourage people to interact, share stories, and possibly meet new friends in a safe way.

“It would be wonderful if people reached out to each other through our project and [it allows] people to feel heard, like they have a place where they’re free to express themselves, one notecard at a time,” added Dannan.

According to Stevens, part of the artwork’s value is that it draws attention to what it has been like for teenagers to live through a pandemic.

“I think it’s an important part of the story that might be overlooked, especially by adults,” Stevens said. “I hope that those who view our art take away an understanding of how other people are coping with this stressful time. I hope that they see that everyone is handling this differently and [that you should] just do whatever makes you feel best. I think the mental health of teenagers is affected greatly in this time and teens need to know that they aren’t alone.”

SQHAP Artistic Director Sayward Schoonmaker said she was impressed by the young artists’ persistence, vision and craft.

“In conversation about their creative process, Skylar, Meseret and Morgan consistently articulated their reasoning for material and formal choices that makes Filipendulous an exploration of isolation and connection in a global crisis,” Schoonmaker said. “Visitors have begun to interact with the work, leaving messages and drawings on index cards clipped to a metallic cord that catches the sunlight . . . I hope to work with young artists [again] in future exhibitions.”

Installed through the Oct. 31, Filipendulous represents the conclusion of SQHAP’s summer-long exhibition titled “Personal Programs.”

Unlike typical Art Park events, which are scheduled for set dates and times, these programs have been experienced by visitors independently, either in person or online.

The juried exhibition featured works by emerging and established artists from across the country.

“This installation wraps up the Personal Programs exhibition and illustrates how the Art Park was able to leverage this unique summer to support artists from all over the country to right here in Cazenovia and artists at all points in their art practice and careers,” said SQHAP CEO ​Emily Zaengle. “Though these artists will never meet each other, the exhibition brought all of [them] and their work ‘together,’ and for our visitors they made everyday at the Art Park an ‘event.’”

According to Schoonmaker, SQHAP requested proposals for temporary works in any media that invited interactivity and conversation with visitors.

The artistic director met Dannan through another young artist who had proposed work for the exhibition.

“Skylar wrote to me, expressing great interest in making an artwork,” Schoonmaker said. “I explained that prospective works required a written proposal and were selected by jury. Skylar and her collaborators, Morgan Schaffer and Meseret Stevens, were eager to participate.”

Schoonmaker added that while she helped them put together a proposal, the students conceived of and created Filipendulous entirely independently.

“I guided them through the application process, which is an educational opportunity for young artists and introduces them to professional art practices,” she said. “I advised the trio on writing the proposal, making an itemized budget, writing personal bios and a description of the artwork, and discussed the challenges and logistics of installing art outdoors.”

For more information on Filipendulous and its creators, visit sqhap.org/happenings.

Take-home ‘Art for Kids’ project

This month, SQHAP is partnering with the Cazenovia Public Library (CPL) to present a take-home sculpture project for kids.

The project is presented as part of the library’s popular Art for Kids program series, which has been adapted to meet COVID-19 requirements.

Throughout the pandemic, each session will feature a take-home kit, including art supplies, project instructions, and information on a specific artist.

Each program will also include a video or Zoom portion.

“When you register, you will also receive a link to a video about the artist and the project to get you started,” said CPL Children’s Education Coordinator Jenna Wright-Martin, who organized the October program along with CPL Museum Educator Pat Hill and SQHAP Hilltop House Director Sarah Tietje-Mietz.

“I reached out to Sarah at the Art Park because she has been a pleasure to work with in the past,” said Wright-Martin. “As we reimagine programs here at the library, her creativity and enthusiasm are wonderful to work with and she made adjusting our in-person format to virtual very easy. We love the creative ways the Art Park has been engaging with visitors during this time of social distancing, and we hope to keep inspiring our patrons with new and exciting programs that still encompass the spirit of our mission statement of lifelong learning and connecting people while we stay apart.”

The upcoming installment of Art for Kids will center on SQHAP founder Dorothy Riester and her love of sculpture.

According to Tietje-Mietz, the program will focus specifically on Riester’s ability to create sculptural art out of almost anything.

“Art making is for everyone, of every age and skill level, and it does not have to be limited to expensive tools and materials,” Tietje-Mietz said. “Some amazingly inventive and inspiring art can be created from everyday objects, and that is what we will be exploring with this project. Dorothy herself was an enthusiastic educator, and to be able to continue to promote her legacy and love for the arts for another generation is a real honor.”

Tietje-Mietz will be creating an instructional video that will lead participants through the process of creating their own Riester-inspired sculptures at home.

Art kits — including paint, glue, a brush, and a variety of other materials — will be available for pick-up at the library beginning Oct. 23.

After the projects are completed, the library will present a virtual art show featuring photos of the sculptures.

To sign up for the Art for Kids session, call the library at 315-655-9322 or visit cazenoviapubliclibrary.org.

For more information on the Stone Quarry Hill Art Park, visit sqhap.org.