Monday, January 24, 2005
CONTACT: Loretta O’Donnell (609) 265-5028 or Joyce Goldsmith (609) 265-5838
BURLCO EAGLE ART PROJECT SPONSORS CHOOSE DESIGNS Eagle Sculptures Will Land at RiverLINE Stations in the Spring Sponsors of Burlington County’s Eagles Have Landed public sculpture project along the RiverLINE announced their selected artists’ designs Monday that included themes ranging from the area’s industry and Renape Indian Nation heritage to Palmyra’s mud for scuffing professional baseballs. More than 100 people attended the presentation of 45 designs by 31 local artists at Thommy G’s in Burlington City. Freeholder Vincent R. Farias, honorary co-chair of the eagle project’s steering committee, announced the project’s five full sponsors to date, their chosen designs and the nonprofit cultural organizations in the county that will benefit when the five-foot eagles are auctioned at a gala in the fall at Palmyra Cove Nature Center. More than $44,500 has been to the project so far. Whitesell Construction Co. selected the “Captain of Industry” by Roebling artist Gary Bykowsky for display at the Florence RiverLINE station. The eagle form is covered in a series of patterns using nuts, screws, washers, wires, etc. Whitesell chose the Center for the Arts in Southern New Jersey in Marlton as the nonprofit recipient of auction revenues.
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PRESS RELEASE, EAGLES HAVE LANDED, ADD ONE, 01-24-05 Brandywine Realty Trust of Mount Laurel chose “Casey at Bat” by Palmyra artist Kathleen Peters. Brandywine chose Main Street Burlington City as its nonprofit recipient and the eagle will to be displayed at the Burlington City RiverLINE station until the auction. “This is a great design showing the eagle perched on top of a bat with the river, bridge, and scuffed baseball skins to memorialize the tradition where Major League baseballs were scuffed with Palmyra’s mud,” Freeholder Farias said. Developers Diversified Realty (DDR) & International Management Consulting of Ohio, which has been involved in building Centerton Square in Mount Laurel, chose the “Indian Eagle” by Medford artist Bette Johnson. DDR selected the Moorestown Theater Company as its nonprofit recipient. Burlington County Times Publisher Stan Ellis and Vice President Shirley Ellis each sponsored an eagle with designs created by their newspaper artists. Joseph DiPaolo of Moorestown designed the “Sentinel of Free Speech” with the First Amendment painted on the mooring base. “Soaring Reflections,” in honor of the local Renape Indian nation, was designed by Roland Gruszewski, Hollis Citron and Abbie Gray. This eagle will be displayed at the Palmyra station. “We need additional sponsors, which cost $5,000 per eagle. Businesses may join together to sponsor an eagle,” said Senator Diane Allen, honorary cochair of the project. (more)
PRESS RELEASE, EAGLES HAVE LANDED, ADD TWO, 01-24-05 “We hope to have enough sponsors to place additional eagles in nearby business districts to brighten those neighborhoods and encourage visitors to our historic riverfront towns,” she added. Sponsor names will appear on printed materials, a website, the auction gala souvenir booklet and other publicity information. Promotional events will be held this summer after the eagles are on display along the RiverLINE. The fiberglass eagle sculptures are now being cast at The Theme Factory in Philadelphia and will arrive in the county in the spring. The county hopes to have the first decorated eagle completed by Earth Day on April 22 nd with all of the eagles “landing” at the 11 RiverLINE stations in Burlington County in June. Artist Irvane Spracklin of Mount Holly, a member of the steering committee, designed a collage of well-known local scenes, such as the bridges, Riverton Yacht Club and Keystone Water Tower building, which she will use to decorate one of the eagles. After display, the eagle will be given to nationally renown eagle photographer John Pezzenti, Jr., whose photo of an eagle on a mooring is being used as the model. The steering committee chose the eagle as a symbol of strength and survival. “As the threatened eagle is making a comeback in our area, our riverfront towns and businesses are making their comeback,” Farias said. (more)
PRESS RELEASE, EAGLES HAVE LANDED, ADD THREE, 01-24-05
Other donators to the project include: PSE&G, NJ American Water Co., Delanco Women’s Club, the Burlington City consortium and Riverton consortium, Ron Williams of Moorestown, Mae Silver of Bordentown, and steering committee members Anthony Fratto of Palmyra and Gerry Savidge of Delran. A copy of the powerpoint presentation presented tonight showing the eagle designs, and more information about the project, is on the county’s new Eagles Have Landed website at www.co.burlington.nj.us/eagle. ###