William (Bill) Chickillo, Penn State Wilkes-Barre lecturer in visual arts, is pleased to announce two upcoming projects.
During World War II, in 1944, the Leach Block building in Dalton, the current site of Memorial Park, was destroyed by fire. When the workers cleared the rubble they found a large rock the perfect size for a memorial. The stone still stands today, a plaque affixed to the front, honoring veterans of all five branches of the U.S. military. Unfortunately, it won't stand much longer. As large cracks continue to expand and chunks of rock fall off the base and sides of the crumbling stone, the Dalton Veterans Memorial Committee is raising funds for a new monument. Comprised of black granite with a polished front and rugged edges, the new memorial will include an etching by Bill Chickillo and the emblems of the five branches of the military. The engraving will depict the scene shown in a photograph dated May 30, 1919, in which area residents are shown marching in a parade to honor their veterans. The committee plans to unveil the new monument on Memorial Day, May 25.
"The current stone has deteriorated," said Chickillo. "The memorial no longer does justice to the people who did serve, to remember them by."
Additionally, Bill will be featuring new pieces in the Everhart Museum of Natural History, Science & Art located on Mulberry Street in Scranton. Baseball Dreams: They Played the Game opens April 10th and will run through the Major League Baseball World Series (October 12th). Baseball is part of the fabric of NEPA - for more than 150 years, it has shaped the heritage of the region and provided the major (and minor) leagues with hundreds of players, coaches, and umpires. The exhibit provides an overview of NEPA baseball from the 19th century to the present day. Historical images and artifacts combine with contemporary work by artist Chickillo, engaging visitors with both sport and art perspectives as they consider the aspect of our cultural history.
For more information on these projects, please contact Bill Chickillo at [email protected].