School Fish Symbolize Rededication of Sculpture Park

Wednesday, June 8 at 5pm the normally quiet Franklin Sculpture Park came alive with educators, town officials, parents, and lots of kids. The occasion was a rededication ceremony for the Franklin Art Center installation "School of Fish".

The public art was originally in installed in 2014 and got a refresh with the help of the Franklin Public Schools Art Director Adam Gooder, Art Teacher Caroline Whelan, Jefferson Principal Stefani Wasik, local artist Amy Adams, and lot of students.

The students were required to submit detailed designs and then complete the painting of the fish in keeping with that design. The refreshed installation will be updated yearly by new students and the work will be retitled "Traveling School of Fish".

Jamele Adams acted as emcee and Amy Adams spoke briefly about the arts in Franklin and the Sculpture Garden Project. Town Administrator Jamie Hellen also spoke about the growing role of the arts in Franklin.

In addition to replacing the weathered fish from 2014, there has been a general sprucing up of the park and Conservation Agent Breeka Li Goodlander said she is applying for state grants to help with removing invasive species from the park and replacing them with native species while DPW Director Robert “Brutus” Cantoreggi also mentioned work his department is doing in a similar vein.

Below, at the right, Jamie Hellen addresses the Sculpture Park Crowd