Easton’s Karl Stirner Arts Trail dedicates its newest sculpture along the trail.

The Friends of the Karl Stirner Arts Trail will be dedicating the newest sculpture to be added to the Karl Stiner Arts Trails on Friday, July 1st, 2016, from 4:30-7:00pm. Local Easton artist, Paul Deery created the installation on the trail over the last few months. Deery’s “Waterway,” was the recipient of the People’s Choice Award from last summer’s “Possible Realities Two” exhibition in Lafayette College’s Grossman Gallery.

The event is free and open to the public; the dedication ceremony will begin at 5:00pm. 3rd & Ferry Fish Market will be providing lite bites and beverages throughout the evening and music by Rian Carr and Jake Heck will round out the night. The dedication will take place at the “Waterway” sculpture, which is approximately 2/10 of a mile from the North 13th Street trail entrance.

“Possible Realities Two” was a call for environmentally focused sculpture entries during the fall of 2014. The public was invited to view and vote on the 25+ local and regional artists on display at the Grossman Gallery of the Williams Visual Arts Building at Lafayette College’s new arts campus.

“‘The Possible Realities’ exhibitions came about for two reason,” stated Jim Toia,  Chairman of the Karl Stirner Arts Trail and Lafayette College’s Director of the Community Based Teaching Program at the Williams Visual Arts Building. “First, we wanted to create an opportunity to give regional artists a voice and a stake in Easton’s art trail. Secondly, we wanted to give our community the opportunity to see the potential of art on the trail, especially in regard to nature-based and environmentally sensitive work.” Toia noted that he looks forward to creating this kind of opportunity again.

Paul Deery’s proposed piece received the most votes from the public and was awarded a $4,000 stipend to produce and install his work along the trail. Deery said, “This sculpture, “Waterway,” combines my skills and experience as a landscape designer and visual artist to realize a site specific installation which is to be looked at and physically experienced as one walks through it. It’s purpose is to give people a sense of being like water as it flows through a channel, where space is compressed and deepened, and then releases as you emerge on the other side.”

Attendees from the surrounding neighborhoods are encouraged to walk to the evening’s event, however parking is available at the following locations: North 13th Street trail parking lot and the trail lot by 500 Bushkill Drive with access to the trail along Bushkill Drive, at the “blue bridge.” Additionally, a shuttle will be provided by Lafayette College, with stops on Lafayette College Campus at the Williams Arts Center (corners of Hamilton & High Street, Easton) and in the southwest quadrant of Centre Square. The shuttle will run continuously from 4:15-7:30pm.,

More information about the Karl Stirner Arts Trail can be found at www.KarlStirnerArtsTrail.org.

The Karl Stirner Arts Trail (KSAT), named for internationally-known, Easton sculptor Karl Stirner, is a scenic 2.4 mile path that runs along the Bushkill Creek and through Downtown Easton; it connects Easton’s Downtown, West Ward, and College Hill areas. The Trail was completed in 2011 through a partnership with the City of Easton and Lafayette College. The trail along the creek is currently home to several contemporary art pieces, along with historic Easton monuments through the Downtown.

The Friends of the Karl Stirner Arts Trail is a grass-roots community group focused on helping to keep the trail clean, beautiful, and enjoyable for all. In addition to the Friends’ Annual Spring Clean Up, the group assists in planning dedications of new art installations and supports fundraising events.