Wellsville: 2019 ceremony for the Fassett Greenspace set for August 31

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WELLSVILLE - You are cordially invited to the official 2019 Ceremony for Wellsville’s new Fassett GreenSpace project, from 1-2:30 p.m. on August 31. Constructed in 2017 on the empty Fassett Hotel lot, the GreenSpace houses a 72 foot meditation labyrinth, over 1,500 square feet of vegetables, flowers, and herbs that are free to the community to harvest, a Little Free Library, and outdoor musical instruments. This year, Art for Rural America board members, volunteers, funders, and anyone who has benefited from the space are invited to gather at 55 N. Main Street on Saturday, August 31, 2019 to celebrate the realization of three new outstanding projects.

• MUSICAL PERFORMANCES / THE GREENSPACE COMPOSITION: At 1:15 and 2:00 p.m. musicians will perform a one of a kind Fassett GreenSpace Theme song titled Harmony in the Freespace, which was composed specifically for the garden park. As of March of this year, the garden features an ensemble of stainless steel outdoor musical instruments built by FreeNotes Harmony Park. Dustin Woodard, local percussionist, Assistant Professor of Music at Alfred University and Houghton College, received an Artist in Community grant from the Tri County Arts Council to compose a theme-song for the Fassett GreenSpace. It is Woodard's hope that part of this theme will be played after the event at the park and the composition can be taught in local music classes.
• THE COMMUNITY DESIGNED MOSAIC ARTWORK: The unveiling of this collaboratively built artwork will be at 1:30 p.m. Every Wednesday during the months of July and August, free tile-making classes were hosted in the garden. These classes were led by local ceramist, Alex Minnick. Minnick and many dedicated participants diligently worked to hand-create a unique mosaic artwork that will be placed in a kiosk at the front of the garden. The Tri County Arts Council and the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation helped fund the construction of this mosaic and kiosk, which will also house a community bulletin board.
• THE BILL UNDERHILL FOUNTAIN: This fountain, installed this summer with the help of contractor Brent Gaylord, will be turned on for the first time during this ceremony at 1:45 p.m. In 2017, Art for Rural America received their initial grant from the Garman Family Foundation to install a fountain. The organization wanted to showcase local talent and commissioned Bill Underhill, local sculptor and Professor Emeritus at Alfred University, to design the piece. The fountain was cast in bronze by students in the School of Art and Design at Alfred University in their Foundry as an act of civic engagement. 

Refreshments for this event will be provided by local businesses and farms. Please show your support for one of the village’s newest assets, experience local art, harvest some fresh vegetables, and enjoy the Fassett GreenSpace on Saturday, August 31 for this one-time event. To get involved or for more information, find the Fassett GreenSpace Project on Facebook, contact Cassandra Bull at 518-937-3234 or email ArtforRuralAmerica@gmail.com.