January 21, 2009

Shoes of Rochester Project


Shoe Project, originally uploaded by artstreamstudios. Click to enlarge and read more...

Here is a little blurb interview NH Magazine did with me about our local - Rochester, NH literary and visual artist's group. We are embarking on a huge project which involves our members - both poets and visual artists to create 10 sculptural larger than life shoes - all different - for a summer public art project. Why shoes you ask? Rochester was a base for four different shoe manufactures including Zodiac, who made the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders boots! The history is full of interesting anecdotes as well as some deep roots for many of the cities residents. Our poet laureate Andrew Perieale is creating an oral history based on the stories he is gathering during the winter to present at our unveiling in June. It's a pretty deep project, including a shoe workshop with school age children to create many little sculptures for the celebration as well.

Sculptor Adam Pearson is creating the sculptures with members and each team of artist/poet will create unique pieces and corresponding poems, which will be placed around the city as a walking tour.

We have to raise $20,000 for the project but I am happy to report we are more than half way there! It's cool to know that all the artists will be paid well for their work and we will be giving $5000 in scholarships to our local high school for exiting seniors who are perusing literary or visual art degrees!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

That's a great idea! It'll bring the community together and get travelers to visit Rochester.

Alexandra said...

Hey Susan, for those of us who don't know where Rochester is can you post a little link? Even a google map link so that I can find out which Rochester you mean. Rochester was the name of the bar spent most of my time when I was supposed to be at university. :)

Susan Schwake said...

hi alexandra,
rochester bar sounds grand! rochester, new hampshire, usa...
i will put a link in for ya so you can find us.:)
thanks for stopping by.
susan