ART STROLL

Take the Art Stroll!

Enjoy exploring Barre City and finding stone sculptures located throughout our historic downtown.

Barre: The Sculpture City

Our community was settled by talented artisans from Europe who positioned Barre as one of the great stone carving centers in the world. The granite sculptures – historic and contemporary - in the Art Stroll inspire visitors and our community members to celebrate our creative heritage.

Studio Place Arts (SPA) has mounted an annual stone sculpture exhibit in its main floor gallery and on the plaza since 2000. Leadership at SPA raised funds to increase the number of public sculptures made from granite in Barre, by creating the Stone Sculpture Legacy Program in 2012. Growing interest in the contemporary sculptures in the Art Stroll underscores the need to continue raising funds to assist with the incremental expansion of this program.

Barre’s historic development was linked to its talented visual artists; its future will be stronger if these qualities are supported. Please contact SPA at 802.479-7069 for information about making a major contribution to support the Stone Sculpture Legacy Program.

For information, contact project manager Sue Higby at [[email protected]].

The Art Stroll and community investments in stone sculptures will inspire residents and visitors today and for many years to come.

Art Stroll Map:

Download a printable Art Stroll map here.

Sculpture Details:

1. Italian-American Stonecutter
North Main Street & Maple Avenue (Dente Park)
This monument, dedicated to Carlo Abate who established the first art school in Barre, honors the community’s talented artists and Italian heritage. It was designed by Elmo Peduzzi, and sculpted by Philip Paini from a model created by Giuliano Cecchinelli. (Italian-American Memorial, Inc., 1985)

2. Coffee Break
219 North Main Street (Barre City Place)
Designed and carved by Heather M. Ritchie, this 4-piece granite installation honors the blue collar work ethic in Barre and depicts tools and other symbols of the trade. For example, there is a life sized, carved newspaper hat that sculptors from Cararra, Italy, made from Italian newspapers to keep granite dust from their hair and to stay warm. (Charles Semprebon Fund, 2014)

3. Unzipping the Earth
201 North Main Street (Granite Zipper Pocket Park)
An oversized stone zipper serves as the artistic focal point for the Granite Zipper Pocket Park, located between Studio Place Arts (SPA) and Barre City Place. Designed and carved by Chris Miller, the zipper opens to a lush perennial garden; granite blocks provide informal seating nearby. (Studio Place Arts & DEW Construction, 2014)

4A. SPA Plaza Gallery
201 North Main Street (Studio Place Arts)
Variation of Cubes by John Matusz. Barre granite and stainless steel.
This sculpture is part of the annual Rock Solid exhibit.
(The plaza in front of SPA is used for a rotating selection of stone sculptures.)

4B. SPA Plaza Gallery
201 N Main Street (entrance of SPA’s main gallery)
Mechanical Problem by John Matusz. Welded steel and stone.
This sculpture is part of the annual Rock Solid exhibit. Contact SPA for purchasing information at 802.479.7069.
(The plaza in front of SPA is used for a rotating selection of stone sculptures.)

4C. Paintbrush honoring SPA’s 15th Birthday
201 N Main Street (entrance of SPA’s main gallery)
A 3-foot paintbrush carved from two types of granite, joined by an aluminum band hangs at the entrance of SPA. Created by Giuliano Cecchinelli II, the piece was donated to celebrate 15 years of community enrichment.

4D. Cherub by Giuliano Cecchinelli
Barre gray granite.
(Photo will be added shortly.)

5. Culmination
(Pearl Street Pedestrian Way)
Designed and carved by Sean Williams, this granite sculpture helps to tell the rich, multi-cultural story of the people who settled in Barre to work the quarries, start small businesses, and create their ideal new home. Like the original premise for Barre’s Ethnic Heritage Festival, the sculpture was inspired by the concept, “From Many Lands, One Community,” and using varied architectural elements, depicts the diverse international backgrounds of Barre’s community members. (Charles Semprebon Fund, 2019)

6. Barre Scouting Monument
(Depot Square)
This monument commemorates the founding of the American Scouting movement, which took place in Barre in 1909. This sculpture was conceived and partially modeled by artist and political activist Carlo Abate before his death in 1941 (see Italian-American Stonecutter), and carved by Giuliano Cecchinelli, II. (Community supporters, 2018)

7. Gargoyle Bike Rack
Near 168 North Main Street (by Coins & Hobbies)
Two granite gargoyles are engaged in a perpetual tug-of-war in this functional art bike rack designed and carved by Chris Miller. (Charles Semprebon Fund, 2014)

8. Colonel Isaac Barré
North Main Street & Prospect Street (City Hall)
Col. Isaac Barré (1726–1802), was awarded a seat in Parliament for his military services in the British army, was a renowned orator, and advocated for the American colonists; he is the man for whom our city is named. This portrait was designed and carved by Giuliano Cecchinelli. (Charles Semprebon Fund, 2014)

9. Youth Triumphant
Washington Street & South Main Street (City Hall Park)
This monument depicts a young warrior pleading for world peace. Carved by Gino Enrico Tosi, Enrico Mori and John Delmonte from a model created by New York sculptor C. Paul Jennewein. Jennewein’s design was selected from a national competition to commemorate the youth who fought in WWI; his artistic achievements may be seen around the country.

Whispering Wall — Youth Triumphant is surrounded by a semi-circular exedra with a bench designed by architect John Mead Howells. (Barre Quarries & Manufacturers Association, 1924)

10. Robert Burns
Washington Street & Academy Street (Vermont History Center)
Created to honor the 100th anniversary of the death of the Scottish poet Robert Burns. Burns was carved by Samuel Novelli, and the panels by Elia Corti, based upon models by Scottish sculptors J. Massey Rhind and James B. King. It shows Burns returning from a workday as a ploughman. Three panels are scenes from his poems and one depicts his home.
(Scottish community, 1899)

11. Mr. Pickwick
Washington Street & Elm Street (Aldrich Public Library)
Mr. Pickwick was the main character in The Pickwick Papers, the first of Charles Dickens’ published works. This sculpture was designed and carved by Giuliano Cecchinelli. (Community supporters of the Aldrich Public Library, 2016)

12. Jack-in-the-Box Bike Rack
Washington Street & Jefferson Street (Aldrich Public Library)
The bike rack created by Giuliano Cecchinelli, II, of Barre, features a granite sculpture of an oversized Jack-in-the-Box mechanical toy resting on the ground, perhaps just after the spring pushed the clown upwards from its box. (Charles Semprebon Fund, 2016)

13. Tree of a Kind
22 Keith Avenue & Summer Street (Downstreet Offices/Apts)
This abstracted stand of fir trees made from granite fits together like a jigsaw puzzle and includes benches; it was designed and created by George Kurjanowicz. (Downstreet Housing & Community Development, 2016)

14. Big Wheel Bike Rack
East Parkside Terrace (Charlie’s Playground 2012)
Sculptural bike rack by Heather M. Ritchie that shows a child riding a Big Wheel up a ramp, evoking the carefree, dynamic movements that many children enjoy in their play. (Charles Semprebon Fund, 2016)